A botanist wants to determine if a fertilizer is effective in the growth of plants. He selects the first 100 plants
of the same type of seedling from a greenhouse and
assigns the first 50 to the group that uses the fertilizer
and remaining seedlings to the group that does not
use fertilizer. He makes sure the plants all have the
same amount of water, soil, and light for two months.
At the end of two months, he measures the heights of
the plants and finds that the ones receiving the
fertilizer are significantly taller.
Which of the following is a valid conclusion?
Inferences can be made for all plants, and the
conclusion can be drawn that the fertilizer will help
all plants grow taller
Inferences cannot be made for all plants, and the
conclusion can be drawn that the fertilizer will help
all plants grow taller.
Inferences can be made for these types of plants,
and the conclusion can be drawn that the fertilizer
will help these types of plants grow taller.
Inferences cannot be made for these types of
plants, and the conclusion cannot be drawn that the
fertilizer will help these types of plants grow taller.