Twenty sprint cyclists were randomly selected to be in a study designed to test the effectiveness of 12 weeks of creatine supplementation on performance. Ten cyclists received a creatine supplement for three months while the other ten received a placebo. The cyclists did not know which supplement they were taking, while the researcher did have this information. This is an example of a(n)____ study.

Question

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This is an experimental study because it involves random assignment of participants to different groups receiving different treatments (creatine supplement or placebo) and an intervention (12 weeks of supplementation) to determine the effectiveness of the treatment on a specific outcome (performance in sprint cycling). The fact that the cyclists did not know which supplement they were taking and that the researcher did have this information is a standard blinding protocol in experimental studies to minimize bias. It is not a case study because the study involves a group of participants and not a single individual, not an epidemiological study because it is not investigating the incidence and distribution of a condition among a population, and not a clinical study because it is not examining the safety and efficacy of a medical treatment.

Twenty Sprint Cyclists Were Randomly Selected to Be in a Study