Researchers in Austria explored the ways that talking soothingly to dairy cows could reduce the cows' stress and whether that soothing talk could be delivered through audiorecordings. They took 28 cows and habituated them to a video camera and a loudspeaker in their pen, to a heart rate monitor attached around their mid-section, and to a female researcher. That is, they made sure each cow got used to those experiences and eventually exhibited low stress. Once they were calm, the baseline phase began, and the cows' heart rate and behavior were measured for 10 minutes. Then, half the cows were randomly assigned to the treatment condition which involved the researcher stroking each cow and reciting a script in a low, soothing voice. Her speech was recorded each time and recordings were randomly assigned to each of the cows in the control group. In other words, each cow in the treatment condition was matched with a cow in the control condition so that they both heard the same speaking, but one heard it live and the other heard a recording over the speaker. Both phases of the study were conducted while the cows were lying down. Coders viewed videotapes of the cows' behavior without hearing any sound or seeing the researcher. Coding was reliable and valid. Their behavioral coding and the recorded heart rate were measures of the cows' stress. The researchers found that the cows in the control condition had signicantly more stress during the treatment phase than during the baseline phase. Cows in the treatment condition did not have different stress levels. The researchers concluded that talking to cows in person in a soothing voice reduces stress. a. What type of study is this (e.g., correlational)? b. What are 2 strengths of this study and why are they strengths? 0. What is 1 weakness of this study and why is it a problem? d. Given your answers to a-c, how would you evaluate the researchers' conclusions about their study