Can pleasant aromas help people work more efficiently? Researchers did this study to find out. Twenty-two students worked a paper-and-pencil maze six times. On three tries, they wore a mask with floral scents. On the other three tries, they wore a mask with no scent. The six tries were done in random order and each used a different maze. The researchers found that the subjects took less time to complete the maze when wearing the scented mask.
This study is a(n)
A) experiment.
B) observational study.
C) sample survey.
D) census.
E) population.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This study involves manipulating a variable (the presence or absence of pleasant scents) and measuring its effect on another variable (time taken to complete the maze). This is the hallmark of an experiment. The other options, such as observational study, sample survey, census, and population, do not accurately describe the design and goals of this study.

Can Pleasant Aromas Help People Work More Efficiently? Researchers Did