Question

A researcher is interested in the relationship between leisure time physical activity, diet, extracurricular activities and hours of sleep with cardiovascular fitness in children ages 6 through 12. She will recruit 100 children to participate in the study. Cardiovascular fitness will be assessed via a 6-minute walk test. Leisure time physical activity, diet, extracurricular activities and hours of sleep will be assessed through questionnaires completed by their parents.

What are the dependent variables, difference/relationship, and independent variables. And Why?

Answer 1

The only dependent variable in this research work is the cardiovascular fitness.

The independent variables include leisure time, physical activity, diet, extracurricular activities and hours of sleep.

The relationship or difference between them is simple, the researcher believes that the cardiovascular fitness depends on all of the other variables described above.

Explanation:

In an experiment, the independent variable is the variable whose values or qualities are not determined by any of the other variables present in the experimental study.

While a dependent variable is the variable whose values or qualities are determined by one or more other variables present in the experimental setup.

Dependent variables depend on the independent variables.

Just like here, the researcher hopes to learn how much dependence of cardiovascular fitness (dependent variable) is on leisure time, physical activity, diet, extracurricular activities and hours of sleep (the independent variables whose values or qualities are not determined by any other variable in the study).