It is the estimate of between-study variance, to quantify heterogeneity
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the use of random sampling that results in an unbiased conclusion.
The word random is used to describe a lack of pattern or organisation in behaviour. It may have very specific technical meanings in mathematics / statistics however. In math the term random usually means not able to be predicted or happening by chance. It implies a lack of order. In statistics we use the term random variable to mean a rule that applies a numerical outcome to each event in a sample space. More generally in statistics randomness means a lack of correlation or a lack of bias.
To prevent bias
The fundamental concept is that there are many processes in the world that contain a random element. If that were not the case, everything would be deterministic and there would be no need for probability of statistics.
1. variable is an antecedent 2. random assignment 3. values are maniipulated 4. controls