M1: Research Variables

Question 1

any characteristic, number, or quantity that can be measured or counted in experimental investigations.

Answer 1

Variables

Question 2

Variables can be _______ variable or _______ variable.

Answer 2

dependent ; independent

Question 3

______ VARIABLE is manipulated to observe its effect,

Answer 3

INDEPENDENT

Question 4

______ VARIABLE is the measured outcome.

Answer 4

DEPENDENT

Question 5

provide the foundation for examining relationships, drawing conclusions, and making predictions in research studies.

Answer 5

Variables

Question 6

the variable the experimenter manipulates or changes and is assumed to directly affect the dependent variable.

Answer 6

independent variable

Question 7

It’s considered the cause or factor that drives change, allowing psychologists to observe how it influences behavior, emotions, or other dependent variables in an experimental setting.

Answer 7

independent variable

Question 8

For example, allocating participants to drug or placebo conditions (_____ variable) to measure any changes in the intensity of their anxiety (_____ variable).

Answer 8

independent ; dependent

Question 9

In a ________experimental study, the independent variable is the only important difference between the experimental (e.g., treatment) and control (e.g., placebo) groups.

Answer 9

well-designed

Question 10

By changing the independent variable and holding other factors constant, psychologists aim to determine if it causes a change in another variable, called the ________.

Answer 10

dependent variable

Question 11

For example, in a study investigating the effects of sleep on memory, the amount of sleep (e.g., 4 hours, 8 hours, 12 hours) would be the ______ variable, as the researcher might manipulate or categorize it to see its impact on memory recall, which would be the _______ variable.

Answer 11

independent ; dependent

Question 12

In psychology, the ________ variable is the variable being tested and measured in an experiment.

Answer 12

dependent

Question 13

represents the outcome or results and can change based on the manipulations of the independent variable.

Answer 13

dependent variable

Question 14

it’s the presumed effect in a cause-and-effect relationship being studied.

Answer 14

dependent variable

Question 15

TRUE or FALSE
An example of a dependent variable is depression symptoms, which depend on the independent variable (type of therapy).

Answer 15

TRUE

Question 16

TRUE or FALSE
In an experiment, the researcher looks for the possible effect on the dependent variable that might be caused by changing the independent variable.

Answer 16

TRUE

Question 17

For instance, in a study examining the effects of a new study technique on exam performance, the technique would be the _______ variable (as it is being introduced or manipulated), while the exam scores would be the ______ variable (as they represent the outcome of interest that’s being measured).

Answer 17

independent ; dependent

Question 18

TRUE or FALSE
There can be more than one independent or dependent variable in a study.

Answer 18

TRUE

Question 19

In some studies, researchers may want to explore how multiple factors affect the outcome, so they include more than one ______ variable.

Answer 19

independent

Question 20

may measure multiple things to see how they are influenced, resulting in multiple _______ variables.

Answer 20

dependent

Question 21

related to independent and dependent variables involve treating participants fairly and protecting their rights.

Answer 21

Ethical considerations

Question 22

Researchers must ensure that participants provide informed consent and that their privacy and confidentiality are respected. Additionally, it is important to avoid manipulating independent variables in ways that could cause harm or discomfort to participants.

Answer 22

Ethical considerations

Question 23

Researchers should also consider the potential impact of their study on vulnerable populations and ensure that their methods are unbiased and free from discrimination.

Answer 23

Ethical considerations

Question 24

TRUE or FALSE
Ethical guidelines help ensure that research is conducted responsibly and with respect for the well-being of the participants involved.

Answer 24

TRUE

Question 25

consists of participants who do not receive any experimental treatment.

Answer 25

control group

Question 26

The control participants serve as a ______ group.

Answer 26

comparison

Question 27

The control group is matched as closely as possible to the _________ group, including age, gender, social class, ethnicity, etc.

Answer 27

experimental

Question 28

The difference between the control and experimental groups is that the control group is not exposed to the ________ variable, which is thought to be the cause of the behavior being investigated.

Answer 28

independent

Question 29

TRUE or FALSE Researchers will compare the individuals in the control group to those in the experimental group to isolate the independent variable and examine its impact.

Answer 29

TRUE

Question 30

The ______ ______ is important because it serves as a baseline, enabling researchers to see what impact changes to the independent variable produce and strengthening researchers’ ability to draw conclusions from a study.

Answer 30

control group

Question 31

TRUE or FALSE Without the presence of a control group, a researcher cannot determine whether a particular treatment truly has an effect on an experimental group.

Answer 31

TRUE

Question 32

Control groups are critical to the ________ as they help ensure the internal validity of a study.

Answer 32

scientific method

Question 33

consists of participants exposed to a particular manipulation of the independent variable.

Answer 33

experimental group

Question 34

These are the participants who receive the treatment of interest.

Answer 34

experimental group

Question 35

TRUE or FALSE Researchers will compare the responses of the experimental group to those of a control group to see if the independent variable impacted the participants.

Answer 35

TRUE

Question 36

TRUE or FALSE An experiment must have at least one control group and one experimental group; however, a single experiment can include multiple experimental groups, which are all compared against the control group.

Answer 36

TRUE

Question 37

TRUE or FALSE Having multiple experimental groups enables researchers to vary different levels of an experimental variable and compare the effects of these changes to the control group and among each other.

Answer 37

TRUE