Question

A researcher examines whether being in a room with blue walls, green walls, red walls, or beige walls influences aggressive behavior in a group of adolescents. The adolescents are given simulated, electronic games where they are required to administer shocks. The researcher will then rank the results of the room where the most shocks occurred (1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th).

Note: focus on the scale of measurement rather than the experimental conditions

A. What is the independent variable?
B. What type or category of independent variable is used?
C. What is the dependent variable?
D. How many levels are there for the independent variable?
E. What is the scale of measurement for the dependent variable?

Answer 1

A. The independent variable is the color of the walls in the room (blue, green, red or beige).

B. The independent variable is categorical.

C. The dependent variable is the ranking of the rooms based on the number of shocks administered by the adolescents.

D. There are four levels for the independent variable: blue walls, green walls, red walls and beige walls.

E. The scale of measurement for the dependent variable is ordinal.