Independent and dependent variables: Practice worksheet | Study ... - Free Printable

Let's go through each of the five experimental descriptions and identify the independent variable (IV) and dependent variable (DV).

Definitions:

- Independent Variable (IV): The factor that is deliberately changed or manipulated by the researcher.
- Dependent Variable (DV): The outcome that is measured to see if it is affected by the independent variable.

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1) Students watched a cartoon either alone or with others and then rated how funny they found the cartoon to be.

- Independent Variable: Whether students watched the cartoon alone or with others
*(This is what was manipulated: two conditions — alone vs. with others)*

- Dependent Variable: How funny the students rated the cartoon
*(This is the outcome being measured — their perception of humor)*

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2) A comprehension test was given to students after they had studied textbook material either in silence or with the television turned on.

- Independent Variable: Study environment (silence vs. television on)
*(The condition under which students studied was manipulated)*

- Dependent Variable: Performance on the comprehension test
*(This is what was measured to assess the effect of the study environment)*

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3) Some elementary school teachers were told that a child’s parents were college graduates, and other teachers were told that the child’s parents had not finished high school; they then rated the child’s academic potential.

- Independent Variable: Information about the child’s parents’ education level (college graduate vs. did not finish high school)
*(This is the manipulated factor — what the teachers were told)*

- Dependent Variable: Teachers’ rating of the child’s academic potential
*(This is the outcome — how they judged the child’s abilities based on the information given)*

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4) Workers at a company were assigned to one of two conditions: One group completed a stress management training program; another group of workers did not participate in the training. The number of sick days taken by these workers was examined for the two subsequent months.

- Independent Variable: Participation in the stress management training program (yes vs. no)
*(This is the condition that was manipulated — whether they received training)*

- Dependent Variable: Number of sick days taken over two months
*(This is the outcome being measured to see if training reduced absenteeism)*

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5) Students at a University were split into two groups and each received a different text for a philosophy course. One group received a traditional textbook, while the other received an interactive textbook on a tablet computer. After the course, the final exam marks between the two groups of students was compared.

- Independent Variable: Type of textbook used (traditional vs. interactive on tablet)
*(This is what was varied between the groups)*

- Dependent Variable: Final exam marks
*(This is the outcome being measured to determine the effect of textbook type on learning)*

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Summary Table:

| Experiment | Independent Variable | Dependent Variable |
|----------|----------------------|--------------------|
| 1 | Watching cartoon alone vs. with others | Rating of how funny the cartoon was |
| 2 | Studying in silence vs. with TV on | Comprehension test scores |
| 3 | Parents' education level (told to teachers) | Teachers’ rating of child’s academic potential |
| 4 | Participation in stress management training | Number of sick days taken |
| 5 | Type of textbook (traditional vs. interactive) | Final exam marks |

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✔ Final Answer:

1.
- Independent Variable: Viewing condition (alone vs. with others)
- Dependent Variable: Rating of funniness

2.
- Independent Variable: Study environment (silence vs. TV on)
- Dependent Variable: Comprehension test score

3.
- Independent Variable: Information about parents’ education level
- Dependent Variable: Teacher’s rating of child’s academic potential

4.
- Independent Variable: Participation in stress management training
- Dependent Variable: Number of sick days taken

5.
- Independent Variable: Type of textbook (traditional vs. interactive)
- Dependent Variable: Final exam marks

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