Question

Ben conducts a study on the effects of actor gender on purchasing preferences. He shows participants a video in which either a male or female actor promotes a new XBox game. Ben then has participants (all parents) rate the game, using a scale of 1-9, on how likely they would be to purchase the game for their children. Does Ben’s study use the experimental method? Explain why or why not

Answer 1

In an experiment investigators apply treatments to experimental units (people, animals, plots of land, etc.) and then proceed to observe the effect of the treatments on the experimental units.

And

In an observational study investigators observe subjects and measure variables of interest without assigning treatments to the subjects. The treatment that each subject receives is determined beyond the control of the investigator.

As here we see that Ben is not using any experimental units but he simply observe the influence of actor gender on purchasing preference hence he is using observational method and not expiremental method.