Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Email
Answers.com

randomize

 
Dictionary: ran·dom·ize   (răn'də-mīz') pronunciation
tr.v., -ized, -iz·ing, -iz·es.
To make random in arrangement, especially in order to control the variables in an experiment.

randomization ran'dom·i·za'tion (-də-mĭ-zā'shən) n.
randomizer ran'dom·iz'er n.

Search unanswered questions...
Enter a question here...
Search: All sources Community Q&A Reference topics
Veterinary Dictionary: randomization
Top

The performance of a function, e.g. selection, in a random manner.

WordNet: randomize
Top
Note: click on a word meaning below to see its connections and related words.

The verb has one meaning:

Meaning #1: arrange in random order
  Synonym: randomise


Wikipedia: Randomization
Top

Randomization is the process of making something random; this means:

Contents

Applications

Randomization is used extensively in the field of gambling (or generally being random). Imperfect randomization may allow a skilled gambler to have an advantage, so much research has been devoted to effective randomization. A classic example of randomization is shuffling playing cards.

Statistics

Randomization is a core principle in statistical theory, whose importance was emphasized by Charles S. Peirce in "Illustrations of the Logic of Science" (1877–1878) and "A Theory of Probable Inference" (1883). Randomization-based inference is especially important in experimental design and in survey sampling.

Randomized experiments

In the statistical theory of design of experiments, randomization involves randomly allocating the experimental units across the treatment groups. For example, if an experiment compares a new drug against a standard drug, then the patients should be allocated to either the new drug or to the standard drug control using randomization.

Randomized experimentation is not haphazard. Randomization reduces bias by equalising other factors that have not been explicitly accounted for in the experimental design (according to the law of large numbers). Randomization also because it produces ignorable designs, which are valuable in model-based statistical inference, especially Bayesian or likelihood-based. In the design of experiments, the simplest design for comparing treatments is the Completely Randomized Design. Some "restriction on randomization" can occur with blocking and experiments that have hard-to-change factors; additional restrictions on randomization can occur when a full randomization is infeasible or when it is desirable to reduce the variance of estimators of selected effects.

Randomization of treatment in clinical trials pose ethical problems. In some cases, randomization reduces the therapeutic options for both physician and patient, and so randomization requires clinical equipoise regarding the treatments.

Randomized experiments were institutionalized in psychology and education in the late eighteen-hundreds, following the invention of randomized experiments by C. S. Peirce.[1] Outside of psychology and education, randomized experiments were popularized by R.A. Fisher in his book Statistical Methods for Research Workers, which also introduced additional principles of experimental design.

Survey sampling

Survey sampling uses randomization, following the criticisms of previous "representative methods" by Jerzy Neyman in his 1922 report to the International Statistical Institute.

See also: Applications of randomness

Techniques

Although historically "manual" randomization techniques (such as shuffling cards, drawing pieces of paper from a bag, spinning a roulette wheel) were common, nowadays automated techniques are mostly used. As both selecting random samples and random permutations can be reduced to simply selecting random numbers, random number generation methods are now most commonly used, both hardware random number generators and pseudo-random number generators.

Non-algorithmic randomization methods include:

See also

References

  1. ^

External links

  • RANDI2 - Open source Randomization tool for clinical trials / research
  • RQube - Generate quasi-random stimulus sequences for experimental designs
  • RandList - Randomization List Generator

Translations: Randomize
Top

Dansk (Danish)
v. tr. - udvælge tilfældigt, randomisere

Nederlands (Dutch)
toevallig verdelen

Français (French)
v. tr. - (Stat) randomiser

Deutsch (German)
v. - willkürlich anordnen

Ελληνική (Greek)
v. - οργανώνω τυχαία με σκοπό να αυξήσω τη στατιστική αξία των αποτελεσμάτων

Italiano (Italian)
randomizzare

Português (Portuguese)
v. - randomizar

Русский (Russian)
делать произвольную выборку

Español (Spanish)
v. tr. - aleatorizar

Svenska (Swedish)
v. - fördela slumpmässigt

中文(简体)(Chinese (Simplified))
作任意排列, 随机化

中文(繁體)(Chinese (Traditional))
v. tr. - 作任意排列, 隨機化

한국어 (Korean)
v. tr. - 무작위화 하다

日本語 (Japanese)
v. - 無作為化する, 無作為抽出する

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(فعل) يوزع بشكل عشوائي‏

עברית (Hebrew)
v. tr. - ‮בחר/שינה באופן אקראי‬


 
 

 

Copyrights:

Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.  Read more
Veterinary Dictionary. Saunders Comprehensive Veterinary Dictionary 3rd Edition. Copyright © 2007 by D.C. Blood, V.P. Studdert and C.C. Gay, Elsevier. All rights reserved.  Read more
WordNet. WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Randomization" Read more
Translations. Copyright © 2007, WizCom Technologies Ltd. All rights reserved.  Read more