Question

Identify whether the study design is experimental or observational. Support with examples.

Answer 1

• In an observational study, we measure or survey members of a sample without trying to affect them.

Example: A study took a random sample of adults and asked them about their bedtime habits. The data showed that people who drank a cup of tea before bedtime were more likely to go to sleep earlier than those who didn't drink tea.

• In an experimental experiment, we assign people or things to groups and apply some treatment to one of the groups, while the other group does not receive the treatment.

Example: Another study took a group of adults and randomly divided them into two groups. One group was told to drink tea every night for a week, while the other group was told not to drink tea that week. Researchers then compared when each group fell asleep.