Question

A researcher is studying the effect of California's decision to raise the age to buy cigarettes to 21 on teen smoking rates. She measures the teen smoking rates in California and a few neighboring states, which have a smoking age of 18, before and after the law was passed. This is known as what?

A) Double-blind study
B) True experiment
C) Natural experiment
D) Correlational study

Answer 1

The study investigating the effect of raising the smoking age on teen smoking rates in California compared to neighboring states is considered a natural experiment.

Step-by-step explanation:

The study examining the impact of California's decision to raise the age for cigarette purchases on teen smoking rates by comparing data before and after the law's passage, and from neighboring states with a smoking age of 18, is known as a natural experiment. This type of study observes the effects of real-world changes without manipulation by the researchers, which differs from controlled experiments where variables are actively manipulated. The researcher in this case did not directly change any conditions but rather observed the outcomes stemming from policy changes, providing insight into the causal relationships between legal restrictions and smoking behavior among teens.