Which demographic groups were compared in the studies?

Which demographic groups were compared in the studies?

• A. High school students 14-18 and adults 30-50
• B. Retirees and students 65+
• C. Children 6-12 and teens 13-17
• D. University students ages 18-31 and online-recruited adults ages 18-60

Answer: (D)

This item is about how studies choose and contrast participant groups. The best option names two distinct adult populations that researchers often compare: university students and a broader online-recruited adult sample, with overlapping ages to keep the comparison meaningful and broad enough to examine generalizability. By using ages 18–31 for students and 18–60 for online-recruited adults, the design clearly contrasts a specific, educationally-oriented group with a more diverse adult group, which helps researchers see how findings might generalize beyond one setting. The other pairings involve groups that are less typical for direct adult-based comparisons or include minors or clearly separate life stages, which would complicate interpretation or align with different research questions.

This item is about how studies choose and contrast participant groups. The best option names two distinct adult populations that researchers often compare: university students and a broader online-recruited adult sample, with overlapping ages to keep the comparison meaningful and broad enough to examine generalizability. By using ages 18–31 for students and 18–60 for online-recruited adults, the design clearly contrasts a specific, educationally-oriented group with a more diverse adult group, which helps researchers see how findings might generalize beyond one setting.

The other pairings involve groups that are less typical for direct adult-based comparisons or include minors or clearly separate life stages, which would complicate interpretation or align with different research questions.