Question

Which of the following studies depicts an observational study?

A. A parent group examines 25 recently released PG-13 movies and records the number of sexual innuendos and curse words that occur in each.
B. A sample of 504 patients in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease is divided into two groups. One group receives an experimental drug, and the other a placebo. The advance of the disease is tracked at one-month intervals over the next year.
1. Option A
2. Option B
3. Both A and B
4. Neither A nor B

Answer 1

The correct choice is option B, which depicts an observational study where no variables are manipulated and naturally occurring phenomena are recorded and analyzed.

Step-by-step explanation:

An observational study is a type of nonexperimental scientific investigation where the researcher measures characteristics in a sample but does not attempt to manipulate or control variables of interest. A clear example of an observational study could be the analysis of the link between malnutrition and performance in elementary school children, as it would be unethical to deliberately deprive a group of essential nutrients. In observational studies, researchers observe outcomes without intervention, which distinguishes it from experimental studies where variables are manipulated by the researchers.

Option B, "an observational study," is the correct choice as it points out a scenario where researchers are looking at naturally occurring phenomena without manipulating any variables, which is intrinsic to observational research. Such studies are essential when it's impossible, impractical, or unethical to conduct controlled experiments. They are particularly valuable in human biology and medicine, where ethical considerations often rule out experimental manipulation.