Question

british researchers were interested in the relationship between farmers’ approach to their cows and the cows’ milk yield. they prepared a survey questionnaire regarding the farmers’ perception of the cows’ mental capacity, the treatment they give to the cows, and the cows’ yield. the survey was filled by all the farms in great britain.

what type of a statistical study did the researchers use?

choose 1 answer:
a sample study
b experiment
c observational study

Explanation:

1. First, analyze each option:

• Option A: A sample study usually involves studying a subset (sample) of a population. But here, the survey was filled by all farms in Great Britain, so it's not a sample study (as it's the entire population, not a sample).
• Option B: An experiment involves manipulating variables (e.g., changing the treatment of cows in a controlled way) to observe the effect. In this case, the researchers are just surveying existing practices and yields, not manipulating any variables.
• Option C: An observational study involves observing and collecting data on variables without interfering or manipulating them. The researchers here are surveying farmers' perceptions, their treatment of cows, and cows' yield as they naturally occur (no manipulation), and they are collecting data from all farms (so it's an observational study of the entire population of farms in Great Britain).

Answer:

C. Observational study