fitness instructor wants to test the effectiveness of a performance-enhancir erbal supplement on students in her Pilates exercise class. She randomly as tudents into two groups. The instructor gives Group 1 the herbal supplemen Group 2 receives a placebo. The fitness level of each student is compared be peginning the treatment and again after six weeks of consuming the suppleme lacebo. Does this describe an observational research study or an experiment research study?

This describes an experiment rather than an observational research study. In this setup, the fitness instructor actively manipulates the independent variable by assigning one group to receive the herbal supplement and the other to receive a placebo. The purpose is to determine the causal effects of the supplement on fitness levels, which is characteristic of experimental research. In the realm of research, experiments often allow for more control over variables, leading to more reliable conclusions about cause and effect. Here, random assignment helps ensure that any differences in fitness levels after six weeks can more confidently be attributed to the supplement instead of other influences. So, grab your Pilates mat, because data collection is about to get dynamic!