Answer

This study is an experiment. Twenty stores have been randomly selected and assigned to either the blue or red group. Therefore, the study meets the first two requirements concerning an experiment - two groups for comparison and random assignment. In addition, it is conducted simultaneouly and if the store managers do not know the hypothesis, it is double blind. The independent variable is the color of the packages. The dependent variable is the amount of sales. As this study meets all the criterea for a true experiment, the researchers reach a fairly valid conclusion that the red package may be more appealing and results in greater sales.

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