Question

Identify the independent and dependent variables in each of the following examples:

• Participants rated their physical health after 6 months of no exercise, yoga, or biking.
• Half of the incoming students at a university were assigned a mentor who was a year or two older; the other half of the students were assigned a mentor who was an alumni of the university. GPA was measured at the end of the first year.
• Reaction time on a driving test was measured for people who had been told they were either good or bad drivers.
• Level of autonomy (freedom) at work was varied to examine the effect on job satisfaction.
a) Independent variable: Type of exercise; Dependent variable: Physical health rating
b) Independent variable: Type of mentor; Dependent variable: GPA
c) Independent variable: Information given; Dependent variable: Reaction time
d) Independent variable: Level of autonomy; Dependent variable: Job satisfaction

Answer 1

a) Independent variable: Type of exercise; Dependent variable: Physical health rating

b) Independent variable: Type of mentor; Dependent variable: GPA

c) Independent variable: Information given; Dependent variable: Reaction time

d) Independent variable: Level of autonomy; Dependent variable: Job satisfaction

Explanation:

In the first scenario (a), the independent variable is the type of exercise—no exercise, yoga, or biking—while the dependent variable is the participants' physical health rating after six months. This setup allows for the assessment of how different types of exercise (or lack thereof) impact physical health over time.

Moving to scenario (b), the independent variable is the type of mentor assigned—either an older student or an alumni—while the dependent variable is the GPA measured at the end of the first year. This design explores the influence of mentorship types on academic performance among incoming university students.

For scenario (c), the independent variable is the information given to participants—whether they were labeled as good or bad drivers—while the dependent variable is the reaction time observed during a driving test. This study aims to investigate how preconceived notions about driving abilities affect actual reaction times.

Lastly, in scenario (d), the independent variable is the level of autonomy at work, while the dependent variable is job satisfaction. This research examines how variations in autonomy impact employees' satisfaction levels in their jobs.

Understanding the distinction between independent and dependent variables is crucial in experimental design as it helps pinpoint the factor being manipulated and the outcome being measured, shedding light on cause-and-effect relationships within the study.

Answer 2

a) Independent variable: Type of exercise; Dependent variable: Physical health rating

b) Independent variable: Type of mentor; Dependent variable: GPA

c) Independent variable: Information given; Dependent variable: Reaction time

d) Independent variable: Level of autonomy; Dependent variable: Job satisfaction

Step-by-step explanation:

In the first example (a), the independent variable is the type of exercise (no exercise, yoga, or biking), and the dependent variable is the participants' physical health rating after 6 months. The type of exercise is manipulated to observe its impact on physical health.

In the second example (b), the independent variable is the type of mentor assigned to incoming students (older peer or alumni), and the dependent variable is the GPA measured at the end of the first year. The mentor type is manipulated to assess its influence on academic performance.

Moving to the third example (c), the independent variable is the information given to individuals (being told they are good or bad drivers), and the dependent variable is their reaction time on a driving test. The information given serves as a manipulation to observe its effect on reaction time.

Lastly, in the fourth example (d), the independent variable is the level of autonomy at work, and the dependent variable is job satisfaction. The level of autonomy is manipulated to examine its impact on employees' satisfaction with their job.

Overall, identifying the independent and dependent variables is crucial in experimental design as it helps researchers understand the relationships and effects between different factors in a study. These distinctions clarify what is being manipulated and what is being measured, providing a foundation for meaningful analysis and interpretation of the results.