What are 3 ways to strengthen validity?

What are 3 ways to strengthen validity?

• A. Randomization
• B. All three of the above
• C. Blinding or masking
• D. Intention-to-treat analysis

Answer: (B)

All of the above. Strengthening validity involves limiting bias from multiple angles, and these three methods address different sources of bias. Randomization creates comparable groups at the start, reducing selection bias and confounding so observed differences are more likely due to the intervention. Blinding or masking keeps participants, clinicians, and outcome assessors unaware of who received which treatment, cutting down on biases in treatment administration and outcome assessment. Intention-to-treat analysis keeps the benefits of randomization by analyzing participants in the groups they were assigned, regardless of adherence or dropout, which prevents bias from noncompliance and attrition and reflects real-world effectiveness. Taken together, they provide the strongest protection against bias, making all three the best combination.

All of the above. Strengthening validity involves limiting bias from multiple angles, and these three methods address different sources of bias. Randomization creates comparable groups at the start, reducing selection bias and confounding so observed differences are more likely due to the intervention. Blinding or masking keeps participants, clinicians, and outcome assessors unaware of who received which treatment, cutting down on biases in treatment administration and outcome assessment. Intention-to-treat analysis keeps the benefits of randomization by analyzing participants in the groups they were assigned, regardless of adherence or dropout, which prevents bias from noncompliance and attrition and reflects real-world effectiveness. Taken together, they provide the strongest protection against bias, making all three the best combination.