How random is picking names out of a hat?

Question

im deciding whether to use a computer algorithm to generate a random list of names, or choosing out of a hat?? can anyone prove to me, which of these 2 are the closest on being completely random.

Answer 1

Technically the computer can produce only pseudo-random numbers. There are ways to overcome that situation, but in the final analysis we have to admit that pseudo-random is NOT truly random.

Choosing names from a hat is usually regarded as a truly random method, but that need not always be the case. Are the pieces of paper (upon which the names are written) all exactly the same size, Can we be sure that the "shuffling" technique is good enough to produce truly random results? There are many things that could happen to cause some names to have a better chance for selection than other names.

On the other hand, though, assuming there is no actual cheating, either method (computer or hat) would produce results that most people would accept as truly random.

Answer 2

Think about it. You cannot get more random, but as far as probability of picking a particular name, it depends how many are in the hat.

If you put 100 names in a hat, the chance of pulling a particular one would be 1%, but if only 10 names were in the hat, the chance would be 10%

Answer 3

choosing out of a hat.