View source for Randomization in Excel

<onlyinclude>This article discusses the advantages and disadvantages of randomizing using Excel and also gives a step-by-step guide on randomizing using Excel. </onlyinclude>

== Read First ==
If [[Randomization in Stata | randomization using Stata]] is feasible, then it should always be the preferred option as[[Randomization in Stata | randomization in Stata]] is more easily [[Reproducible Research | reproducible]].
== Reasons why Stata is always preferable to Excel ==
Here are some of the reasons :
* '''Easy documentation.''' Randomization done in Stata can be better documented through files. Every step can be documented which makes it easier to reproduce the results. 
*[[Stata Coding Practices | Stata]] gives us the option of setting which version of Stata we use for randomization. This is useful when different researchers use different versions of Stata.
*Better documentation and version control make randomization results in Stata consistent across various runs.

== Advantages and Disadvantages of Randomizing using Excel == 
Stata might not be available in some cases. For those cases, the advantages and disadvantages of randomizing using Excel are as follows:
===Advantages===
Here are some of the advantages of randomizing using Excel : 
*Balance/stratification can be achieved during randomization using Excel. 
*Randomization using Excel is simple to implement and produces a record.
*Since Excel is widely used, it is commonly understood and used by project staff. 

===Disadvantages ===
Some of the disadvantages of using Excel to randomize are as follows: 
*Excel is more mysterious to beneficiaries than public randomization(For example - drawing names from a hat, etc) 
*Randomization in Excel is less [[Reproducible Research | replicable]] than [[Randomization in Stata]]. 
*Since the randomization involves copying and pasting, it can be subject to human errors.
*It is also less flexible to changes in the randomization plan.

==Steps for Randomization in Excel == 

Here are the steps of doing successful ***randomization using Excel***:

*The first thing that needs to be done is to define a randomization rule. For example = the lowest 50% will be treatment, the rest will be assigned to control, etc. 
*Assign random numbers to each observation. While doing this, use "paste values" to stop recalculating the randomization. </br> <code> =rand() </code>
*Sort the random numbers from the lowest to the highest.
*Created an ordered serial number. If you need to balance the data, then first sort by the strata, then by the random values. 
*Assign groups using either the <code> '''mod''' </code> or the  <code> '''if''' </code> formulas. 
<!-- Add stratification and balanced part here-->
*Save the record.

== Back to Parent ==
This article is part of the topic [[Randomized Control Trials]]


[[Category: Impact Evaluation Design ]]