What is the term for ensuring that individuals in both experimental and comparison groups are of the same age?

The term for ensuring that individuals in both experimental and comparison groups are of the same age is matching on age. This technique is specifically employed to control for age as a potential confounding variable, meaning that it helps to eliminate the influence that age may have on the outcomes being studied. By matching participants based on age, researchers can make more valid comparisons between the groups, as any observed effects can be more confidently attributed to the experimental manipulation rather than age-related differences.

This approach is especially useful in studies where age is likely to affect the dependent variable. For example, if an experiment is investigating the effectiveness of a new educational program, ensuring that participants in both groups are of similar ages reduces the risk that age-related factors will skew the results.

In contrast, randomization involves assigning participants to groups at random, which helps balance all characteristics, not just age. Standardization refers to the process of ensuring consistency in the experimental procedures, while equalization generally implies achieving balance across various features. Matching on age is a more direct approach for addressing age discrepancies specifically.