Variables Flashcards
What are independent variables?
Variables we believe will cause a change to another variable
What is the name of the variable that we believe the independent variable will cause a change to?
The dependent variable
What is the name of the variable that we believe will cause a change to the dependent variable?
The independent variable
What are dependent variables?
Variables that we measure
What is the name of the variable that is measured?
The dependent variable
If we were investigating if the length of a word affected the number of words recalled, what would be the variable that we would be measuring? (i.e. the dependent variable)
The number of words correctly recalled
What are confounding variables sometimes known as?
Extraneous variables
What are extraneous variables another name for?
Confounding variables
What are confounding variables?
Variables that could cause a change to the dependent variable, even though we do not want them to
What, other than independent variables, can cause a change to the dependent variables?
Confounding variables
What, other than confounding variables, can cause a change to the dependent variables?
Independent variables
What are the two types of variables that can cause a change to the dependent variables?
Independent variables and confounding variables
What type of variable may an experimenter want to control because it was not wanted as part of the experiment?
Confounding variables
What type of group is exposed to the IV?
Experimental group
What type of group is not exposed to the IV?
Control group
What is the difference between the experimental group and the control group?
Experimental group = exposed to IV
Control group = not exposed to IV
What is the experimental group?
Group exposed to the IV
What is the control group?
Group not exposed to the IV
What is operationalism?
Making a hypothesis (?) measurable and specific
What are the 3 types of variable that psychologists are concerned with in their research?
Independent variables, dependent variables, confounding variables
Define the 3 types of variable that psychologists are concerned with in their research.
- Independent variables = Variables we believe will cause a change to another variable
- Dependent variables = Variables that we measure
- Confounding variables = Variables that could cause unwanted change to the dependent variable
Identify the independent variable in the following hypothesis:
There is a difference in the speed with which people react to visual and auditory stimuli.
Type of stimuli (visual or auditory)
Identify the dependent variable in the following hypothesis:
There is a difference in the speed with which people react to visual and auditory stimuli.
Speed of reaction/reaction time
Identify the independent and dependent variables in the following hypothesis:
There is a difference in the speed with which people react to visual and auditory stimuli.
IV = Type of stimuli (visual or auditory) DV = Speed of reaction/reaction time
Identify the independent variable in the following hypothesis:
Cannabis affects memory.
Amount of cannabis (whether they have it or not)
Identify the dependent variable in the following hypothesis:
Cannabis affects memory.
Memory
Identify the independent and dependent variables in the following hypothesis:
Cannabis affects memory.
IV = Amount of cannabis (whether they have it or not) DV = Memory
Identify the independent variable in the following hypothesis:
Bulls will charge more often when presented with a red rag than when presented with a blue rag.
Type of rag (blue or red)
Identify the dependent variable in the following hypothesis:
Bulls will charge more often when presented with a red rag than when presented with a blue rag.
Number of times the bull charges
Identify the independent and dependent variables in the following hypothesis:
Bulls will charge more often when presented with a red rag than when presented with a blue rag.
IV = Type of rag (blue or red) DV = Number of times the bull charges
Identify the independent variable in the following hypothesis:
First born children learn to speak earlier than second born and subsequent children.
Family position; birth order
Identify the dependent variable in the following hypothesis:
First born children learn to speak earlier than second born and subsequent children.
Time taken for the child to learn to speak
Identify the independent and dependent variables in the following hypothesis:
First born children learn to speak earlier than second born and subsequent children.
IV = Family position; birth order DV = Time taken for the child to learn to speak
Identify the independent variable in the following hypothesis:
Men drive faster than women.
Gender (male or female)
Identify the dependent variable in the following hypothesis:
Men drive faster than women.
Driving speed
Identify the independent and dependent variables in the following hypothesis:
Men drive faster than women.
IV = Gender (male or female) DV = Driving speed
Identify the independent variable in the following hypothesis:
Lack of sleep affects learning in 10-year-old boys.
Hours of sleep
Identify the dependent variable in the following hypothesis:
Lack of sleep affects learning in 10-year-old boys.
Learning ability in 10-year-old boys
Identify the independent and dependent variables in the following hypothesis:
Lack of sleep affects learning in 10-year-old boys.
IV = Hours of sleep DV = Learning ability in 10 year old boys
Identify the independent variable in the following hypothesis:
A baby under 9 months of age will not search for a hidden object
Age of baby
Identify the dependent variable in the following hypothesis:
A baby under 9 months of age will not search for a hidden object
Whether or not they search for an object
Identify the independent and dependent variables in the following hypothesis:
A baby under 9 months of age will not search for a hidden object
IV = Age of baby DV = Whether or not they search for an object
Identify the independent variable in the following hypothesis:
Social class affects IQ scores.
Social class
Identify the dependent variable in the following hypothesis:
Social class affects IQ scores.
IQ scores
Identify the independent and dependent variables in the following hypothesis:
Social class affects IQ scores.
IV = Social class DV = IQ scores
Identify the independent variable in the following hypothesis:
It is easier to remember items which are chunked together than it is to remember individual, unconnected items.
Whether items are individual or chunked together
Identify the dependent variable in the following hypothesis:
It is easier to remember items which are chunked together than it is to remember individual, unconnected items.
How well they remember the items (how many they remember)
Identify the independent and dependent variables in the following hypothesis:
It is easier to remember items which are chunked together than it is to remember individual, unconnected items.
IV = Whether items are individual or chunked together DV = How well they remember the items (how many they remember)
Identify the independent variable in the following hypothesis:
Stressful experiences increase the likelihood of headaches.
Number of stressful experiences
Identify the dependent variable in the following hypothesis:
Stressful experiences increase the likelihood of headaches.
Number of headaches in a period of time
Identify the independent and dependent variables in the following hypothesis:
Stressful experiences increase the likelihood of headaches.
IV = Number of stressful experiences DV = Number of headaches in a period of time
Identify the independent variable in the following hypothesis:
Time of day affects alertness
Time of day
Identify the dependent variable in the following hypothesis:
Time of day affects alertness
Alertness
Identify the independent and dependent variables in the following hypothesis:
Time of day affects alertness
IV = Time of day DV = Alertness
