Question

A researcher wants to estimate the likelihood that the baseball player will hit 2 home runs in a single game, given that the player hits a home run once in every 13 times at bat. Which type of study is most suitable for data collection in this situation?

experimental

census

survey

simulation

Answer 1

An experimental study typically has test groups and control groups. For example, a trial drug is going to be tested. 20 subjects get the real pill and 20 get a placebo pill at random. The scientists then look at results later and see if the drug is effective and see what other conclusions they can come to.

A census study is essentially when everyone in a particular group or population is studied. For example, the United States does a census every year on as many citizens as possible to get general information, like race, sex, income, location, etc.

A survey study is when a researcher gives out a set of questions for a group to answer, and then the researcher examines the results. For example, when a school asks the students to fill out a survey on how to better improve the school.

Lastly, a simulation study is a study to predict something using a computer. You can control the variables of the experiment to see what the possible outcomes are like. For example, a researcher wants to see how often a student presses a button, given that every 30 students, one of them presses it. They would then study the results!