Determine If the Following Scenario Is an Observational Study or a Controlled

question 21

Essay

Determine if the following scenario is an observational study or a controlled experiment and explain your reasoning. A doctor is interested in determining whether a certain medication is effective at treating abdominal pain. He reviews his patients' medical records and finds that a higher proportion of people who took the medication fewer abdominal pain symptoms than those who did not take the medication.

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Definitions:

Palmar Reflex

An involuntary response observed in infants, where the hand closes over an object placed in the palm.

Motor Development

The process of change in physical movement capabilities observed across the lifespan from infancy through adulthood.

Social Functioning

The ability of an individual to interact and perform in a social environment, encompassing both the performance of daily activities and the quality of relationships with others.

Intellectual Functioning

The capacity of an individual to act purposefully, think rationally, and deal effectively with the environment, often measured by intelligence quotient (IQ) tests.