Unit 3.2 Observational Study vs. Experiment

Front

What is the main difference between an observational study and an experiment?

Back

An observational study involves observing subjects without manipulating any variables, while an experiment involves manipulating one or more variables to determine their effect on a response.

Front

What defines an experiment in research methodology?

Back

An experiment is defined by the random assignment of subjects to different groups and the manipulation of an independent variable to observe its effect on a dependent variable.

Front

In the context of research, what is a control group?

Back

A control group is a group of subjects that does not receive the experimental treatment and is used as a benchmark to measure how the other tested groups do.

Front

What is a treatment group in an experiment?

Back

A treatment group is a group of subjects that receives the experimental treatment or intervention.

Front

What is the purpose of random assignment in experiments?

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Random assignment helps ensure that each participant has an equal chance of being assigned to any group, which minimizes bias and helps establish causality.

Front

What type of study is being conducted when a researcher observes the relationship between two variables without intervention?

Back

This is an observational study.

Front

What is a confounding variable?

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A confounding variable is an outside influence that changes the effect of a dependent and independent variable, leading to erroneous conclusions.

Front

Why is it important to have a large sample size in experiments?

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A large sample size increases the reliability of the results and helps ensure that the findings are statistically significant.

Front

What is the role of hypothesis testing in experiments?

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Hypothesis testing is used to determine whether there is enough evidence to reject a null hypothesis in favor of an alternative hypothesis.

Front

What is the significance of blinding in experimental studies?

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Blinding reduces bias by preventing participants or researchers from knowing which group participants belong to, thus minimizing the influence of expectations on the results.