Samples Experimental and Observational

An Advanced Algebra teacher gives out a study guide before the test. The teacher lists the students who completed their study guide and compares their scores to the remaining Advanced Algebra students’ scores.

• Observational Study

• Experimental Study

To determine whether sugar affects an athlete’s performance at practice, Coach Barron gave half the team doughnuts for breakfast and the other half whole grain cereal. He compared the two groups in terms of endurance and energy. This is an example of:

• Observational Study

• Experimental Study

Compare the grades on a final math test of 25 students who use calculators and 25 students who do not use calculators. The students decide which group they are in.

• Experiment

• Observational Study

210 college students were randomly assigned to play either a violent or nonviolent video game.  A short time later, the students were presented with the opportunity to trivially harm another person and results comparing the two groups were recorded.
Is this study OBSERVATIONAL or EXPERIMENTAL? 

• Observational

• Experimental

A study where researchers deliberately impose treatment on the individuals.

• Experiment

• Observational Study

• Survey

• Census

Frannie and Fiona collect data comparing students' GPA and how many hours per week they spend doing extracurricular activities. This is best described as a(n)

• observational study

• matched pairs design

• experiment

• survey

You want to see if fifth-grade boys or fifth-grade girls are faster at solving jigsaw puzzles. You randomly select twenty fifth-grade boys and twenty fifth-grade girls from fifth graders in your school district. You time and record how long it takes each student to solve the same jigsaw puzzle correctly. What type of study is described?

• Survey

• Experimental Study

• Observational Study

A study was done to answer the question, “What is the effect of different durations of light and dark on the growth of radish seedlings?” Three similar growth chambers (plastic bags) were created in which 𝟑𝟎 seeds randomly chosen from a package were placed in each chamber. One chamber was randomly selected and placed in 𝟐𝟒 hours of light, another for 𝟏𝟐 hours of light and 𝟏𝟐 hours of darkness, and a third for 𝟐𝟒 hours of darkness. After three days, researchers measured and recorded the lengths of radish seedlings for the germinating seeds. What type of study is described?

• Survey

• Experimental Study

• Observational Study