Question

answer in the simplest way and like a teen

(a)
Ms. Harris, a math teacher, wants to compare the effectiveness of a new math instructional program.
She tests each student’s math ability and then divides the students into two groups.

One group uses the new instructional program, while the other group uses the standard curriculum.
At the end of the year, the teacher retests all the students and compares the increase in math ability in the two groups.

​Part A:
Is this an observational study or an experiment? Why?

Answer 1

This is an experiment.
She’s actually giving one group the new program and the other the normal one — so she’s changing what students get (manipulating the treatment) and then measuring the effect. If she randomly assigns students to groups, she can more confidently say the program caused any difference.