We want to determine the type of study being conducted in the described situation.
Students in a biology class are learning about the monarch butterfly's life cycle. Each student is given a caterpillar. When a caterpillar turns into a chrysalis, it is placed in a glass enclosure with food and a heat lamp and examined.
To do so, let's first recall the different types of studies and their definitions.
The sample is divided into two groups — an experimental group that undergoes a change and a control group that does not undergo a change. The effect on the experimental group is then compared to the control group.
In our situation, the data are obtained from a observing a sample of caterpillars given to all of the students in the class. Therefore, the situation describes an observational study.
