Final answer:
The description corresponds to an experiment, as it involves dividing subjects into controlled and experimental groups to test the treatment effects of a pill, which is consistent with the characteristics of an experimental study rather than an observational study.
Step-by-step explanation:
The description given corresponds to an experiment rather than an observational study. This is indicated by the fact that the subjects were divided into two groups to test the aftereffects of a certain pill.
An observational study is one where researchers observe subjects without manipulating any variables. In contrast, an experiment involves deliberately applying a treatment to an experimental group and comparing their outcomes with a control group to assess the effects of the treatment.
In the description given, since researchers have actively intervened by administering a pill and have set up a control group, this represents the characteristics of an experiment.
For further clarification, an experiment is often considered the gold standard in scientific research because it allows for the establishment of a cause-and-effect relationship.
In this study, if a significant difference in aftereffects between the group receiving the pill and the control group is observed, researchers may conclude that the pill is responsible for those effects, all other variables being constant.