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Questions and Answers
What is the primary role of a dependent variable in research?
What is the primary role of a dependent variable in research?
Which term is not used to refer to a dependent variable?
Which term is not used to refer to a dependent variable?
Which of the following best describes an independent variable?
Which of the following best describes an independent variable?
When plotting data, where is a dependent variable typically located?
When plotting data, where is a dependent variable typically located?
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In a study, if the amount of sleep is altered to observe changes in a student's test scores, what is the independent variable?
In a study, if the amount of sleep is altered to observe changes in a student's test scores, what is the independent variable?
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What is a confounding variable?
What is a confounding variable?
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In algebraic terms, what does a dependent variable commonly represent?
In algebraic terms, what does a dependent variable commonly represent?
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Which of these is an example of a dependent variable?
Which of these is an example of a dependent variable?
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Which of the following best describes the independent variable in an experiment?
Which of the following best describes the independent variable in an experiment?
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In the research question 'How does caffeine affect hunger?', what is the dependent variable?
In the research question 'How does caffeine affect hunger?', what is the dependent variable?
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Which type of variable is controlled to remain constant throughout an experiment?
Which type of variable is controlled to remain constant throughout an experiment?
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In the context of the relationship between ice cream sales and crime rates, what is the confounding variable?
In the context of the relationship between ice cream sales and crime rates, what is the confounding variable?
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What does the term 'extraneous variable' refer to?
What does the term 'extraneous variable' refer to?
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Which of the following is an example of a control variable?
Which of the following is an example of a control variable?
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Study Notes
Variables in Research
- Variables are features that can change and potentially influence or reflect relationships/outcomes. Examples include time, object use, or sample member features.
Independent and Dependent Variables
- Independent Variables: Controlled or manipulated by the researcher to determine their relationship to a dependent variable. They are often the "cause" in a study. Examples include age, amount of caffeine, or music exposure.
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Dependent Variables: Measured to assess the effect of independent variables; they show the outcome or response. Examples include test scores, hunger levels, or reading abilities.
- Also called response variables, outcome variables, or left-hand-side variables. (Y variable in equations)
Other Types of Variables
- Confounding Variables (Third Variables): Unintended variables that affect the dependent variable in addition to the independent variable. These can lead to misinterpreting the relationship. Example: ice cream sales and crime rates (temperature is the confounding variable).
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Extraneous Variables: Variables that might weaken the relationship between independent and dependent variables.
- Examples include demand characteristics (participant behavior clues in the experiment), experimenter effect (clues influencing results), and situational variables (room temperature, noise level).
- Control Variables: Variables kept constant across study conditions. This strengthens results by preventing them from becoming confounding variables. Example: keeping water/soil type the same in a plant growth experiment.
- Moderator Variables: Variables that change the strength of the relationship between the independent and dependent variables. Example: student health in a study on study time and test scores. Examples can be categorical or quantitative..
Comparing Variables
| Research Topic | Independent Variable | Dependent Variable |
|---|---|---|
| All Research Topics | Manipulated by researcher | Measured by researcher |
| All Research Topics | What is being changed | What is changing in response |
| Plants grow faster in warmer temperatures | Temperature | Plant Growth |
| To what extent does traffic affect a person's mood? | Traffic | Mood |
| People walk slower after drinking coffee. | Drinking Coffee | Walking Speed |
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Description
Explore the different types of variables in research, including independent, dependent, and confounding variables. This quiz will test your understanding of their definitions and relationships in research studies.
