3.2.1 independent and dependent variables

Question 1

what is an independent variable

Answer 1

the variable that is changed during an experiment

Question 2

what is a depenent variable

Answer 2

the variable being measured in an experiment

Question 3

what are the two types of independent/dependent variable

Answer 3

discrete
continuous

Question 4

what is the experimental treatment group compared to in an experiment

Answer 4

a control group

Question 5

what does the control of laboratory conditions allow

Answer 5

simple experiments to be conducted more easily than in the field

Question 6

what are the drawbacks of a simple experiment

Answer 6

its findings may not be applicable to a wider setting

Question 7

what is a multifactorial experiment

Answer 7

this involves a combination of more than one independent variable or combination of treatments

Question 8

what does it mean to say that there is no truly independent variable

Answer 8

investigators may use groups that alreay exist

Question 9

what are observational studies

Answer 9

this is when the independent variable is not directly controlled by the investigator, for ethical or logistical reasons

Question 10

what is the pro of using observational studies

Answer 10

they are good at detecting correlation

Question 11

what is the con of using observational studies

Answer 11

they do not directly test a hypothesis, they are less useful for determining causation