What is the best kind of study to conduct when wanting to show that Variable X has a direct effect on Variable Y?
The answer choices I am given are experiment, survey, observational study, non experimental study.
I think the right choice would be an experiment. Please correct me if I'm wrong.
experiment
You are correct, an experiment is the best kind of study to conduct when wanting to show that Variable X has a direct effect on Variable Y.
In an experiment, the researcher has control over the variables and can manipulate Variable X to determine its effect on Variable Y. This allows for a cause-and-effect relationship to be established. By randomly assigning participants to different groups (e.g., experimental group and control group), the researcher can ensure that any observed effects are due to Variable X and not any other factors.
On the other hand, a survey is a data collection method that gathers information from a sample of individuals. While surveys can provide valuable insights into people's opinions, beliefs, and behaviors, they do not establish direct cause-and-effect relationships between variables.
An observational study involves observing and recording data on a set of variables without actively manipulating them. Though useful for generating hypotheses and exploring relationships, observational studies cannot establish causality.
Non-experimental studies include observational studies, case-control studies, and cohort studies. These studies do not involve manipulating the variables of interest and, therefore, cannot demonstrate a direct cause-and-effect relationship.
In summary, an experiment is the preferred study design when trying to demonstrate a direct effect of one variable (X) on another (Y).
You are correct, an experiment is the best kind of study to conduct when wanting to show that Variable X has a direct effect on Variable Y.
In an experiment, the researcher has control over the variables being studied and can manipulate Variable X to directly observe its effect on Variable Y. This allows for a cause-and-effect relationship to be established.
To conduct an experiment, you would typically divide participants into two or more groups: the experimental group, where Variable X is manipulated, and the control group, where Variable X is not manipulated. Both groups are then compared to see if there is a significant difference in the outcome Variable Y.
Other study designs, such as surveys, observational studies, and non-experimental studies, may be useful in gathering information and exploring correlations between variables, but they do not provide the same level of control and ability to establish a direct cause-and-effect relationship as an experiment.