Final answer:
A testable question for a virtual lab on how instructional type affects student test scores could be framed as: "How does the type of instruction affect student test scores?". The independent variable is the type of instruction, and the dependent variable is the student test scores. An experimental design must control other factors to ensure the results are attributable to the independent variable.
Step-by-step explanation:
A testable question for a virtual lab using the format "How does the independent variable (IV) affect the dependent variable (DV)?" could be: "How does the type of instruction (IV), whether through a computer program or through an in-person instructor, affect student test scores (DV)?". In this scenario, the type of instruction is what you are manipulating or changing, and the student test scores are what you expect to change as a result of the type of instruction.
An experimental design must control other variables that might affect the DV, such as students' prior knowledge or the difficulty level of the tests. In doing so, researchers ensure that any changes in the DV can be more confidently attributed to the IV rather than to other factors.
Variables in Scientific Research
When conducting a scientific experiment, it is crucial to identify the independent and dependent variables. An independent variable is the factor that is hypothesized to cause some effect on another variable, which is the dependent variable. For example, in an experiment designed to test how different levels of sunlight (IV) affect plant growth (DV), the amount of sunlight is systematically varied to observe its effects on how well the plants grow