Describe Whether The Following Study Would Most Likely Be Ob

Describe Whether The Following Study Would Most Likely Be Observation

Describe whether the following study would most likely be “observational” or “experimental,” and why it would be so. A survey examines the preferences for laundry detergent. & The admissions office wants to estimate the cost of textbooks for students at our college. Let the variable be the total cost of all textbooks purchased by a student this semester. The plan is to randomly identify 100 students and obtain their total textbook costs. The average cost for the 100 students will be used to estimate the average cost.

A. Describe the parameter the admissions office wishes to estimate.

a. Describe the population

b. Describe the variable involved

c. Describe the sample

Paper For Above instruction

This study involves estimating the average total cost of textbooks purchased by students at a college, based on a sample of 100 randomly selected students. The study aims to determine the typical amount students spend on textbooks in a semester, which is a parameter of interest for the admissions office and related stakeholders.

Firstly, this study is observational rather than experimental. It does not involve manipulating any variables or applying treatments to the subjects. Instead, it involves collecting data as it naturally occurs—that is, recording the actual amounts spent by students without intervention. Randomly selecting students to observe their textbook costs merely describes their existing behavior; it does not assign or influence those costs. Therefore, this study is clearly observational because it observes and measures existing behaviors without imposing any experimental conditions or controls.

The parameter the admissions office wishes to estimate is the population mean of the total textbook costs for all students at the college. Formally, this refers to the average expenditure on textbooks across the entire student body during a semester. This parameter provides insight into typical student expenses, which can inform budgeting, financial aid planning, and resource allocation.

The population in this context is all students enrolled at the college during the target semester. This includes every individual student who purchases textbooks in that period, providing a comprehensive group from which to draw inferences.

The variable involved is the total cost of all textbooks purchased by a student in the semester. This is a quantitative, continuous variable representing the amount of money each student spends on textbooks. It may vary widely depending on factors such as program of study, year, choice of courses, and whether students buy new or used books.

The sample consists of the 100 students who are randomly selected for the study. This subset serves as a representative sample of the entire student population, allowing the researchers to estimate the population parameter based on the sample mean. Random selection helps to reduce bias and ensures that the sample accurately reflects the diversity and distribution of costs among all students.

In sum, this study is observational because it records existing student behaviors without intervention. The primary goal is to estimate the average textbook expenditure across the student body by analyzing a randomly chosen sample, thereby providing valuable insights for administrative decision-making. The careful selection and measurement of the sample ensure that the estimate will be both accurate and representative of the broader population.

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