Variables and Study Groups

Question 1

What are variables and what are the 4 types of variables?

Answer 1

They are factors that can change over time.

Types:

• Independent Variable
• Dependent Variable
• Control Variable
• Uncontrolled Variable

Question 2

Independent Variable

Answer 2

Is the variable changed by the experimenter

e.g the amount of medication given

Question 3

Dependent Variable

Answer 3

Is the variable measured to determine it’s relationship to the changed variable, because its change depends on the changes to the independent variable.

Question 4

Controlled Variables

Answer 4

Limits other factors that could influence the outcome of a study.

• The confounding effects are eliminated

Question 5

Uncontrolled Variables

Answer 5

These are additional variables that confound the data, meaning that a causal link cannot be made between the dependent and independent variables.

Question 6

What are study groups and what the 2 types of groups?

Answer 6

They are there to provide comparisons to see if the independent variable is actually the cause of changes in the dependent variable.

Types

• Experimental Group
• Control Group

Question 7

Experimental Group

Answer 7

It’s the group being studied and subjected to the variables of the study.

Question 8

Control Group

Answer 8

It is of an identical sample as the experimental group, they have the same variables, except for the independent variable.