1 In a randomized controlled trial, participants are assigned to treatment conditions at random (i.e., they have an equal probability of being assigned to any group).  Procedures are controlled to ensure that all participants in all study groups are treated the same except for the factor that is unique to their group.
Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) An Employee Stock Ownership Plan, or ESOP, is a qualified retirement program in which employees receive shares of the business rather than stock. ESOPs are said to be qualified because they qualify for federal income tax deferral until the stock is turned into cash at retirement.
ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan) Facts. As of 2015, we at the National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO) estimate there are roughly 7,000 employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs) covering about 13.5 million employees. Since the beginning of the 21st century there has been a decline in the number of plans but an increase in the number of participants.