Final answer:
In Smithers' experiment, the control group is Group B who did not receive the juice,
the independent variable is the special juice given to Group A,
and the dependent variable is the productivity measured by the number of paper piles made.
Control variables include the same set of papers and same task duration for both groups.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the scenario given, Smithers is attempting to determine if a special juice will increase the productivity of workers. Here is the breakdown of the experimental design:
- Control group: This is the group that does not receive the experimental treatment. In Smithers' experiment, the control group is Group B, the group that did not receive the special juice.
- Independent variable: This is the variable that is changed or controlled in an experiment to test the effects on the dependent variable. In this case, the independent variable is the special juice, as it is what is being tested to see if it affects productivity.
- Dependent variable: This is the variable that is being tested and measured in an experiment. Here, the dependent variable is the number of paper piles made by the workers, as this is the outcome Smithers is interested in measuring.
- Control variables: These are the factors that are kept the same across both groups to ensure that any difference in the dependent variable can be attributed to the independent variable. The mentioned control variables include having both groups staple the same set of papers and have the same task for one hour.