A Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) is a scientific study design used to determine whether a specific intervention, such as a new training program or security measure, actually causes a change in outcomes. In an RCT, participants are randomly assigned to either an intervention group or a control group. This randomization helps eliminate bias and ensures that any differences observed between the groups are due to the intervention itself, not other factors. RCTs are widely considered the gold standard for evaluating the effectiveness of new treatments, policies, or procedures in fields like medicine, education, and cybersecurity.