Determine whether the following scenario fits an observational study.

Your teacher is trying to find the best way to teach fractions, and so they teach half the class using a traditional method and the other half of the class using hand-held fraction representations.

Option #1: Yes, an observational study is the best.

Option #2: No, an observational study is not the best.

A
Option #1

B
Option #2

1 answer

B. Option #2: No, an observational study is not the best.

This scenario describes an experiment where the teacher actively manipulates the teaching methods and divides the class into two groups to compare the results, which is characteristic of an experimental study, not an observational study. In an observational study, the researcher would observe and measure outcomes without intervention or manipulation of variables.