Chapter 1.1, Problem 1.19E

To determine

To identify whether the observational study or experimental study.

Answer to Problem 1.19E

This is an observational study.

Explanation of Solution

Given:

To study the effect of living in public housing on family stability in low-income households, researchers obtain a list of all applicants for public housing in Chicago last year. Some applicants were accepted, while others were turned down by the housing authority. The researchers interview both groups and compare them.

First need to understand about the experimental study and observational study:

Experimental study: Assigning people or things to groups and applying some treatment to one group, while the other group does not receive the treatment.

Observation study: In an observational study, measure or survey members of a sample without trying to affect them.

This study is an observational study. In this study, the acceptance of applicants was not influenced by researcher instead they accepted the applications by their own decision. Therefore, it does not involve any treatment picture. Hence, it is not experimental.