In a laboratory, smokers are asked to "drive" using a computerized driving simulator equipped with a stick shift and a gas pedal. The object is to maximize the distance covered by driving as fast as possible on a winding road while avoiding rear-end collisions. Some of the participants smoke a real cigarette immediately before climbing into the driver's seat. Others smoke a fake cigarette without nicotine. You are interested in comparing how many collisions the two groups have. In this study, the independent variable is __________
A) the use of nicotine.
B) the use of a driving simulator.
C) the number of collisions.
D) the driving skills of each driver.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The independent variable in this study is the use of nicotine, as it is the factor being manipulated by the researchers (some participants smoke a real cigarette with nicotine, while others smoke a fake cigarette without nicotine). The driving simulator is simply the environment in which the participants are driving, and the number of collisions is the dependent variable being measured. The driving skills of each driver could potentially be a confounding variable that would need to be controlled for in the study, but it is not the independent variable.

In a Laboratory, Smokers Are Asked to "Drive" Using a Computerized