Question

A social psychologist interested in the effects of media violence arranged to have 15 children watch a popular children's TV show that included a lot of violence. Five were randomly assigned to watch the show on a small-screen TV, five on a standard-size screen TV, and five on a large screen TV. Immediately after, each child was left in a room with various toys, and the number of seconds of play with violent toys was systematically recorded.

What's the dependent variable and independent variable?
a) Dependent variable: Number of seconds of play with violent toys; Independent variable: Size of the TV screen.
b) Dependent variable: Size of the TV screen; Independent variable: Number of seconds of play with violent toys.
c) Dependent variable: Children's age; Independent variable: Number of seconds of play with violent toys.
d) Dependent variable: Number of seconds of play with non-violent toys; Independent variable: Size of the TV screen.

Answer 1

The independent variable in the study is the size of the TV screen, and the dependent variable is the number of seconds of play with violent toys.

Step-by-step explanation:

In an experimental study, the independent variable is what the researcher manipulates or controls, and the dependent variable is what is measured to see the effect of the independent variable. In the scenario described, where a social psychologist investigates the effects of media violence by having children of the same age watch a violent TV show on different sizes of screens, the independent variable is the size of the TV screen, as it is the factor that is being manipulated. The children are divided into three groups, with each group watching on a different sized screen: small, standard, and large. The dependent variable, on the other hand, is the number of seconds of play with violent toys, as this is the outcome that is being measured after the children have watched the show.

The correct answer to which variable is independent and which is dependent in this study is: a) Dependent variable: Number of seconds of play with violent toys; Independent variable: Size of the TV screen.