Determine whether the description corresponds to an observat

Determine whether the description corresponds to an observational study or an experiment.

Research is conducted to determine if there is a relation between lung capacity and proximity to coal mines.

Does the description correspond to an observational study or an experiment?

Solution

This is an observational study. Here we need to observe few regions which are at several distances from coal mine. Then we have to collect data on lung capacity from each region. Here everything is done in the natural setting of the respondants. Hence this is an observational study.