Teaching Random Assignment: A Classroom Demonstration Using a Deck of Playing Cards

Abstract

Despite its apparent simplicity, random assignment is an abstract concept for many students. This article describes a classroom demonstration that uses a standard deck of playing cards. In small groups, students randomly assign playing cards (i.e., participants) to 2 treatment groups. Following randomization, students compare the relative frequency of "background variables" across the 2 groups (e.g., the number of red, black, face cards, spades). A pretest-posttest design indicated that quiz scores increased following the demonstration. We suggest a number of possible extensions for the demonstration.

Meta-Analysis of Group Learning Activities: Empirically Based Teaching Recommendations

“…For example, studies in which participants were judged to have a high level of interdependence may have utilized group activities that involved one or more of the following: (a) coordinated activity to achieve a common goal such as a presentation with a shared grade, (b) working together to solve a common problem or reach consensus, or (c) using shared resources to identify a solution to a real or imagined scenario. In contrast, studies in which participants were judged to have a low level of interdependence typically involved group activities that did not include any of the above criteria and wherein participants made primarily individual comments (e.g., Cathey, 2007) or observed a demonstration within a group (e.g., Enders, Laurenceau, & Stuetzle, 2006).…”

Evidence-Based Medicine as a Tool for Undergraduate Probability and Statistics Education

“…The basics of randomization turned out to be surprisingly hard to teach and required substantial time. We used a previously developed active-learning exercise in which students assign playing cards randomly into two groups ( Enders et al. , 2006 ) and extended this exercise to have students physically implement a matched-pair design using playing cards.…”

Did the Gamemakers Fix the Lottery in the Hunger Games?

“…It is our belief that randomization is a powerful statistical tool that should be used in the classroom in order to help students obtain an intuitive feel for variability. For an excellent example of activity‐based instruction using a deck of playing cards, see the work of Enders et al (). As a precursor to the more complicated randomization test for the Hunger Games lottery, we provide a simple example in order to demonstrate the procedure.…”