Helen decides to study the effects of alcohol on driving ability. She selects 200 college students and randomly divides them into two groups of 100 students each. Subjects in
Group "A" drive a car through an obstacle course while remaining sober. Subjects in
Group "B" also drive through the obstacle course, but they are given an ounce of
Whiskey before each attempt at driving the course. As expected, the driving ability of
Subjects in group "B" steadily deteriorates as they consume more alcohol. In Helen's
Study, the subjects' driving ability is the ______.
A) independent variable
B) codependent variable
C) dependent variable
D) reciprocal variable

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The dependent variable is the variable being measured or observed and is dependent on the independent variable. In this case, the driving ability of the subjects is being measured and observed, and it is dependent on whether or not they were given alcohol (the independent variable). Therefore, the driving ability is the dependent variable in Helen's study.

Helen Decides to Study the Effects of Alcohol on Driving