Roldán Aráuz, Diego FranciscoRoldán Monsalve, Diego FernandoVillavicencio Quinde, Manuel GonzaloAguilar Feijó, Víctor Gerardo2021-01-202021-01-2020191392-0340http://dspace.ucuenca.edu.ec/handle/123456789/35452https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85078438332&doi=10.15823%2fp.2019.135.1&partnerID=40&md5=0bd0b3ab976fde43f6fd113302a10a2bWe propose a new metaheuristic algorithm to find “good” solutions for the assignment of small treatment-control groups, minimising the random resource. Using simulated cases, we achieved 100% groups with equivalence levels equal to or higher than those generated with the simple random assignment, complete random assignment and block random assignment designs. In addition, as a secondary objective to test the new algorithm, we found that short out-of-class essays implied that treatment group marks were 14% higher than in the control group. © 2019, Vilnius Pedagogical University.es-ESGroup equivalenceSmall treatment and control groupsLearning measurementEffective Meta-Heuristic AssignmentARTÍCULO10.15823/p.2019.135.1