Question

What determines whether some of these studies are experiments? Name at least two potential confounding variables controlled by breastfeeding experiments

Answer 1

An observational study is a study where researchers simply collect data based on what is seen and heard and infer based on the data collected. Researchers should not interfere with the subjects or variables in any way. Two things are required of an observational study. First, the variables must be observed and the data must be collected through observation. A researcher can't add in any extra information, or guesses. All of the information must be evidence in the observational study. Second, the researcher can only observe, they cannot interfere with the study in any way.Observational studies have explanatory and response variables only. Because the researcher cannot interfere with the study, there cannot be any independent nor dependent variables.

On the other hand, an experiment usually tests a hypothesis, which is an expectation about how a particular process or phenomenon works. However, an experiment may also aim to answer a "what-if" question, without a specific expectation about what the experiment reveals, or to confirm prior results. During the experiment, one or more conditions (called independent variables) are allowed to change in an organized manner and the effects of these changes on associated conditions (called dependent variables) is measured, recorded, validated, and analyzed for arriving at a conclusion.