What is the reasoning behind the randomized block design?

What will be an ideal response?


Like stratified sampling, randomized block designs are constructed to reduce noise or variance in the data. They require you to divide the sample into relatively homogeneous subgroups or blocks (analogous to "strata" in stratified sampling). Then, the experimental design you want to apply is implemented within each block or homogeneous subgroup. The key idea is that the variability within each block is less than the variability of the entire sample. As a result, each estimate of the treatment effect within a block is more efficient than estimates across the entire sample. When you pool these more efficient estimates across blocks, you should get a more efficient estimate overall than you would without blocking.

Psychology

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You have a close friend who wishes to adopt a baby. However, the adoption agency has told her that it is unlikely that she will be able to adopt a newborn

She and her husband are apprehensive about continuing with their plans for adoption because they fear that if they do not know their infant from birth, they will not be able to establish a good parent-infant bond. What have you learned about parent-infant bonding, specifically, that might be reassuring to your friend? What will be an ideal response

Psychology