Asked by kk
Decide whether the following case study is an observational or experimental study and explain your reasoning.
In the Salk Polio Vaccine Study, researchers studied whether the newly developed polio vaccine worked. Thousands of children randomly received either the polio vaccine or a fake shot (placebo). Researchers then tracked how many children in each group got the disease. Children who got the vaccine were much less likely to get polio. This led to widespread use of the vaccine and a big drop in polio cases around the world.
This is an
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This is an experimental study.
I know this because the researchers actively assigned children at random to receive either the vaccine or a placebo (manipulating the treatment) and then compared outcomes. Random assignment and a control (placebo) group are hallmarks of an experiment and allow causal conclusions about the vaccine’s effect. Observational studies do not involve this kind of researcher-controlled treatment assignment.
I know this because the researchers actively assigned children at random to receive either the vaccine or a placebo (manipulating the treatment) and then compared outcomes. Random assignment and a control (placebo) group are hallmarks of an experiment and allow causal conclusions about the vaccine’s effect. Observational studies do not involve this kind of researcher-controlled treatment assignment.
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