Question

One way MSNBC solicits the opinions of its news consumers is through the organization’s online Speak Out surveys. Using social media and its television and radio news shows, MSNBC encourages its news consumers to go online and respond to various opinion polls about trending topics. Typically the polls remain open. In one ongoing Speak Out poll, MSNBC asks whether marijuana should be legalized, decriminalized, or illegal. As of May 10th, 2015, more than 26,000 people had responded to the poll, and 77% indicated that marijuana should be legalized.

_ an observational study

_ an experiment

Answer 1

Solution: By definition we know that experimental studies are those where investigators apply treatments to experimental units. There is involvement of treatment and control groups in experimental study.

And observational study is the one where investigators observe subjects and measure variables of interest without assigning treatments to the subjects.

In this question, MSNBC asks whether marijuana should be legalized, decriminalized, or illegal by conducting social media, television and radio news shows. In this experiment, no treatment is provided to the subjects of interest. Only their response is observed. Hence it is an observational study.