Question

Eight people who suffer from sinus infections volunteer to test a new medication that will relieve symptoms. The names of the volunteers are . . 1. Amanda . 2. Scott . 3. Tessa . 4. Jon . 5. Elizabeth . 6. Kevin . 7. Robin . 8. Mike . . Four of the volunteers will receive the new medication, while the other four will receive a placebo as part of a double blind experiment. Starting at the left of the list of random numbers below and reading from left to right, assign four people to be given the medication. . . 20742 05310 65921 01652 75532 95621 12097 . Who are the four people assigned ?

Answer 1

The easiest way to do this is by ignoring the 0, a nine, or those that has been used before and assign the four other numbers

So the answer would be : 
- Scott
- Robin
- Jon
- Elizabeth

Hope this helps

Answer 2

Answer:

Use the first numbers to assign the treatment to the individuals.

Explanation:

The names of the individuals are:

1. Amanda: 20742

2. Scott: 05310

3. Tessa: 65921    

4. Jon: 01652

5. Elizabeth: 75532  

6. Kevin: 95621  

7. Robin: 12097

8. Mike: (no number assigned)

I am assuming that the numbers that are random and are given to them in the order seen.  First, remove all the persons that have a zero or 9 in front and no number assigned to their names . That leaves 20742 , 65921, 75532, 12097.

The four individuals would be Amanda, Tessa, Elizabeth and Kevin.

There are other ways to do this randomized selection, that also involves eliminating the numbers with zeros and those that have been used in the same numbers.    

It can also be done by using the first two digits, also eliminating the zero and assigning the numbers from lowest to highest alphabetically in ascending or descending  order.

Four volunteers will always be chosen based on any of these methods.