Which of the following is most likely to be an independent variable?
A) running speeds
B) depression scores
C) paw-lick latencies
D) forms of therapy

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Forms of therapy are the most likely to be an independent variable because they can be manipulated and varied by the researcher to examine their effects on the dependent variable (which would be the outcome or response variable). Running speeds and paw-lick latencies may be measured or observed, but they are unlikely to be directly manipulated by the researcher. Depression scores may also be measured, but they could be seen as either an independent variable (if the study was looking at the effects of a treatment on depression) or a dependent variable (if the study was investigating the causes of depression).

Which of the Following Is Most Likely to Be an Independent