Dr. Soto was conducting research in a small rural community in Asia that was affected by an earthquake. Dr. Soto collected baseline measurements on posttraumatic responses and then the natural disaster assistance team arrived. Dr. Soto collected the same information again from respondents after the disaster assistance team had been stationed for one week. After two weeks the disaster assistance team left and Dr. Soto collected posttraumatic response data again. Dr. Soto expected that the posttraumatic responses would return to baseline after the disaster assistance team left. What is the independent variable in this A-B design?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In an A-B design, the independent variable is typically the intervention or treatment that is being studied. In this case, the intervention is the presence of the disaster assistance team, so the independent variable is the disaster assistance team (choice C). The baseline measurements (choice D) and the natural disaster itself (choice B) are not considered independent variables in this particular design. The geographic area (choice A) may be a factor that could affect the results, but it is not the intervention that is being studied in this design.

Dr Soto Was Conducting Research in a Small Rural Community