Question

A veterinarian selected a random sample of 10 dogs to study their sleep patterns. five of the dogs were randomly assigned to eat dry dog food and the other five dogs were randomly assigned to eat wet dog food. the data showed that dogs who ate wet dog food were more likely to sleep regularly than those who ate dry dog food. does this scenario describe an observational study or an experiment? this scenario describes an .

Answer 1

The scenario given is an experiment because the independent variable, type of dog food, is deliberately manipulated and the dogs are randomly assigned to groups to observe the effect on their sleep patterns.

Step-by-step explanation:

The scenario in question describes an experiment, not an observational study. This is because the independent variable, which is the type of dog food (dry or wet), is manipulated by the researcher. The dogs are randomly assigned to one of two groups, and their sleep patterns are observed under the varying conditions of their diet.

In an observational study, the researcher would observe and record behavior without influencing or modifying any variables. In this case, the assignment of specific diets to compare sleep patterns constitutes an experimental design, where the intention is to investigate cause-and-effect relationships between the controlled dietary intake (independent variable) and the sleep patterns of the dogs (dependent variable).

By randomly assigning the dogs to one of the two diet groups, the researcher reduces the impact of potential confounding variables and aims to obtain valid data to support or refute a hypothesis about the effect of diet on sleep regularity.