Question

Select all that apply.

Which of the following statements best describes a characteristic of an observational study?
The researcher determines relationships among variables.
The individuals are observed the exact way they act in real life.
The researcher imposes, for example, a treatment on the sample population and then observes their response.
It is the best method to learn about cause-effect relationships.

Answer 1

The researcher determines relationships among variables.

The individuals are observed the exact way they act in real life.

Explanation:

An observational study can be defined as a type of study in which a researcher observes and measures the effect of a diagnostic test, risk factors, or treatments on individuals without intervening, changing or manipulating who are or aren't exposed to it (controlled conditions).

Hence, the statements which best describes a characteristic of an observational study are;

I. The researcher determines relationships among variables.

II. The individuals are observed the exact way they act in real life.

Additionally, an unobtrusive data collection is a data collection technique used mainly in the social sciences to obtain or gather data without the researcher directly interfering or interfacing with the subject being studied. Thus, it doesn't influence the behavior, action or response of the subjects under study.