Nearly random designs with greatly improved balance
大幅改善协变量平衡的近随机实验设计
Summary We present a procedure that divides a set of experimental units into two groups that are similar on a prespecified set of covariates and are almost as random as with a complete randomization. Under complete randomization, the difference in the standardized average between treatment and control is $O_{\rm p}(n^{-1/2})$, which may be material in small samples. We present an algorithm that reduces imbalance to $O_{\rm p}(n^{-3})$ for one covariate and $O_{\rm p}\{n^{-(1 + 2/p)}\}$…