"We hypothesized that parents who use more frequent verbal punishment...will report more problem behaviors in their children" (Brenner & Fox, 1998, p. 252).In this study, the independent variable is best described as ______.
A) problem behaviors reported
B) parents
C) children
D) use of verbal punishment

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The independent variable is the variable that is manipulated by the researcher and expected to cause a change in the dependent variable. In this case, the researchers are manipulating the use of verbal punishment by parents and expecting it to cause a change in the problem behaviors reported in their children. Therefore, the use of verbal punishment is the independent variable.

"We Hypothesized That Parents Who Use More Frequent Verbal Punishment