Final answer:
The correct answer is d) The results are unlikely to be due to random variation. This indicates that the observed differences in the experimental study are statistically significant and not just due to chance but rather to the experimental treatment or factor being tested.
Step-by-step explanation:
After conducting an experiment, Dr. Burnett found that there was a statistically significant difference between the scores of the experimental and control groups. The correct interpretation of this statement is that the results are unlikely to be due to random variation, which is option d. A statistically significant difference means that the probability of the difference occurring by chance is very low, typically less than 5%. Therefore, we can reasonably attribute the difference in scores to the effect of the experimental manipulation rather than chance. This significant result does not necessarily tell us if the experimental group scored higher, only that their scores differed from the control group in a way that is unlikely to have happened by chance.
Conducting experiments with ethical considerations is essential, such as ensuring no harm comes to participants, which is why we cannot ethically assign participants to groups that would suffer abuse. In experiments, control groups are necessary to compare and determine the effectiveness of a treatment or experimental manipulation by comparing their outcomes with those of the experimental group, while controlling for lurking variables.