Question

select the experiments that use a randomized comparative design.

Participants in a study to determine the effects of a new blood pressure drug are divided into groups based on body mass index. All overweight participants receive the new drug, and all normal or underweight participants receive a currently approved drug.

Environmental scientists are concerned with the effects of nitrogen on the drinking water supply. Hundreds of farmers have volunteered to participate in the study in exchange for free fertilizer. The scientists assign the low-nitrogen blend to 25 randomly chosen farms near rivers, creeks, and tributaries and assign the normal blend to 25 randomly chosen farms not near such bodies of water. The scientists then compare mean biomass production in grams per square meter during the growing season.

A telephone company offers three plans to customers. The company randomly chooses 200 customers who have signed up for each of the three plans. It then compares their telephone bills over six months to determine which plan saves customers the most money.

To test a new epidermal treatment on fish in polluted pond water, 60 fish with epidermal abrasions from the same pond are randomly placed into three groups. One group receives the new treatment, another group receives the existing treatment, and the third group receives no treatment.

Students have volunteered to participate in a study of the effects of caffeine on memory. A computer program assigns each student at random to drink either a caffeinated or a decaffeinated beverage. The students are then given a list of 20 different objects to study for one minute and asked to write down as many of the new objects as they can remember.

Answer 1

Option 1:

Participants in a study to determine the effects of a new blood pressure drug are divided into groups based on body mass index. All overweight participants receive the new drug, and all normal or underweight participants receive a currently approved drug.

It is not a randomized comparative design.

Because groups are divided on the basis of body mass index.

Option 2:

Environmental scientists are concerned with the effects of nitrogen on the drinking water supply. Hundreds of farmers have volunteered to participate in the study in exchange for free fertilizer. The scientists assign the low-nitrogen blend to 25 randomly chosen farms near rivers, creeks, and tributaries and assign the normal blend to 25 randomly chosen farms not near such bodies of water. The scientists then compare mean biomass production in grams per square meter during the growing season.

It is not a randomized comparative design.

Because groups are divided on the basis of location.

Option 3:

A telephone company offers three plans to customers. The company randomly chooses 200 customers who have signed up for each of the three plans. It then compares their telephone bills over six months to determine which plan saves customers the most money.

It is not a randomized comparative design.

Because groups are not divided randomly.

Option 4:

To test a new epidermal treatment on fish in polluted pond water, 60 fish with epidermal abrasions from the same pond are randomly placed into three groups. One group receives the new treatment, another group receives the existing treatment, and the third group receives no treatment.

It is a randomized comparative design.

Because groups are divided randomly.

Option 5:

Students have volunteered to participate in a study of the effects of caffeine on memory. A computer program assigns each student at random to drink either a caffeinated or a decaffeinated beverage. The students are then given a list of 20 different objects to study for one minute and asked to write down as many of the new objects as they can remember.

It is a randomized comparative design.

Because groups are divided randomly.