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

To solve this worksheet, we need to understand the difference between an independent variable and a dependent variable.

* Independent Variable (IV): This is the "cause" or the part of the experiment that is changed on purpose. It's what you manipulate to see if it has an effect. Think: "What are they testing?"
* Dependent Variable (DV): This is the "effect" or the result. It's what gets measured in response to the change. Think: "What data did they collect?"

Let's break down each question step-by-step.

1) Students watched a cartoon either alone or with others and then rated how funny they found the cartoon to be.
* *Step 1: Identify the change.* The students were put into different situations: watching alone vs. watching with others. This is the condition being manipulated.
* *Step 2: Identify the measurement.* After watching, the students gave a rating on how funny the cartoon was. This is the outcome being measured.
* *Result:* IV = Watching condition (alone vs. with others); DV = Rating of how funny the cartoon was.

2) A comprehension test was given to students after they had studied textbook material either in silence or with the television turned on.
* *Step 1: Identify the change.* The environment where they studied was changed: silence vs. TV on.
* *Step 2: Identify the measurement.* The students took a comprehension test. Their scores are the data collected.
* *Result:* IV = Study environment (silence vs. TV on); DV = Score on the comprehension test.

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.
* *Step 1: Identify the change.* The information given to the teachers was changed: parents are college grads vs. parents didn't finish high school.
* *Step 2: Identify the measurement.* The teachers then gave a rating regarding the child's academic potential.
* *Result:* IV = Information about parents' education level; DV = Teachers' rating of the child's academic potential.

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.
* *Step 1: Identify the change.* The workers were split into groups based on whether they got training or not.
* *Step 2: Identify the measurement.* The company looked at the number of sick days taken.
* *Result:* IV = Participation in stress management training (yes vs. no); DV = Number of sick days taken.

5) Students at a University were split into two groups and each received a different text for a philosophy course. Once group received a traditional text book, 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.
* *Step 1: Identify the change.* The type of textbook provided was changed: traditional book vs. interactive tablet book.
* *Step 2: Identify the measurement.* At the end, the students' final exam marks were recorded and compared.
* *Result:* IV = Type of textbook used; DV = Final exam marks.

Final Answer:
1. Independent Variable: Whether students watched alone or with others. Dependent Variable: The rating of how funny they found the cartoon.
2. Independent Variable: The study environment (silence or TV on). Dependent Variable: The score on the comprehension test.
3. Independent Variable: The information given to teachers about the parents' education level. Dependent Variable: The rating of the child's academic potential.
4. Independent Variable: Whether the workers participated in stress management training. Dependent Variable: The number of sick days taken.
5. Independent Variable: The type of textbook (traditional or interactive). Dependent Variable: The final exam marks.