Question

Research participants are randomly assigned to one of three groups. One group listens to a list of words, another group reads a list of words printed on paper, and the remaining group hears and reads the words. The researcher then tests the participants’ memories to see how many words the members of each group can recall. The modality in which the words are presented (i.e., auditory, visual, or both) is which type of variable?

Answer 1

The modality of word presentation is the independent variable in the mentioned study, as it is what researchers manipulate to see its effect on participants' memory recall.

Step-by-step explanation:

The modality in which the words are presented (i.e., auditory, visual, or both) is referred to as the independent variable in a research study. This is because it is the variable that the researcher manipulates to see its effect on the participants' memory recall, which is the dependent variable. In the context of memory research, auditory processing involves hearing words, visual processing entails reading or seeing the words, and a combination of both would involve both reading and hearing the words simultaneously. These modalities can influence how well information is encoded into memory, affecting recall or recognition tasks later. For instance, semantic encoding, which deals with the meaning of the words, can lead to better recall since people often remember words grouped by meaning or categories.

Answer 2

Independent

Step-by-step explanation:

Independent variable: The variable that is being changed or manipulated in an experiment. The changes or alteration in the independent variables can lead to changes in the dependent variable.

It is only the researcher or the experimenter, who can make changes in the independent variables throughout the study.

There are three types of variables that can be used in an experiment:

1. Independent variables.

2. Dependent variables.

3. Control variables.