SAT OwlQuestion bank / Evaluating statistical claims: observational studies and experiments
Researchers selected a random sample of high school students from across one state. Half of the students were randomly assigned to complete a six-week online tutoring program, and the other half did not use the program. The students who used the program showed significantly greater improvement on a math test. Which of the following is the most appropriate conclusion?
The program causes greater improvement in math for all high school students in the United States.
The program is associated with greater improvement, but it cannot be concluded that the program caused it.
The program causes greater improvement only for the students who used it.
The program likely causes greater improvement in math for high school students in the state.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D
Random assignment to the program allows a cause-and-effect conclusion. Random selection of students from the state allows the results to be generalized to high school students in that state. Since the sample came from only one state, the conclusion shouldn't be extended to the whole country.
Choice A is tempting because the study used both random selection and random assignment, but the sample represents only one state, not the entire United States.
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