What are the difference between an experiment and an observation?

Answer 1

In an experiment investigators apply treatments to experimental units (people,

animals, plots of land, etc.) and then proceed to observe the effect of the

treatments on the experimental units.

n an observational study investigators observe subjects and measure variables

of interest without assigning treatments to the subjects. The treatment that each

subject receives is determined beyond the control of the investigator.

For example, suppose we want to study the effect of smoking on lung capacity in women.

Summary:

1.The main difference between observational study and experiments is in the way the observation is done.

2.In an experiment, the researcher will undertake some experiment and not just make observations. In observational study, the researcher simply makes an observation and arrives at a conclusion.

3.In observational study, no experiment is conducted. In this type of study the researcher relies more on data collected.

4.In an experiment, the researcher observes things through various studies.

5.There is human intervention in experiments whereas there is no human intervention in observational study.

6.Hawthorne studies are a good example for experiments.

7.The study to determine the relation between smoking and lung cancer is a typical example for observational study.