Determine whether the study is an observational study or an experiment.
-A medical researcher obtains a sample of adults suffering from diabetes. She randomly assigns 67 people to a treatment group and 67 to a placebo group. The treatment group receives a medication over a period of three
Months and the placebo group receives a placebo over the same time frame. At the end of three months the
Patientsʹ symptoms are evaluated.
A)experiment
B)observational study

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This is an experiment because the researcher is manipulating the treatment group by giving them medication and comparing their symptoms to those of the placebo group. The random assignment of patients to the treatment and placebo groups also helps reduce the potential for confounding variables, which is a characteristic of an experiment. This is an experiment because the researcher is manipulating the variable (providing medication to the treatment group) and randomly assigning participants to groups. The goal is to determine if the medication has an effect on the symptoms of diabetes.

Determine Whether the Study Is an Observational Study or an Experiment