Problem-Solving and Data AnalysisMediumConclusion from a randomised fertiliser experiment
Problem-Solving and Data Analysis practice question
Researchers randomly assigned 200 tomato plants to two groups. One group received a new fertiliser and the other did not; everything else was kept the same. After eight weeks the fertilised plants were 20 percent taller on average. Which conclusion is best supported?
- A. The fertiliser likely caused the extra growth in plants like these.Correct
- B. The fertiliser will work on every kind of plant.
- C. The unfertilised plants were unhealthy.
- D. No conclusion about cause can be drawn from this experiment.
Answer: A. The fertiliser likely caused the extra growth in plants like these.
Random assignment with other conditions equal supports a causal conclusion for this kind of plant.
Why the other answers are wrong
- B. The fertiliser will work on every kind of plant.
- Only tomato plants were tested.
- C. The unfertilised plants were unhealthy.
- Nothing suggests the control plants were unhealthy.
- D. No conclusion about cause can be drawn from this experiment.
- Random assignment is exactly what allows a causal conclusion.
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