A researcher wanted to determine the effect of violent video game content on aggressive behavior in adolescents. To do so, he instructed one set of participants to play a violent video game and another set of participants to play a computerized chess match. The experimenter then measured participant's aggression levels. What was the independent variable?
A) the chess match
B) type of video game
C) aggressive behavior
D) the computer

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The independent variable is the factor that is manipulated by the researcher to examine its impact on the dependent variable. In this study, the type of video game (violent video game vs. computerized chess match) is manipulated to see its effect on aggressive behavior, making it the independent variable.

A Researcher Wanted to Determine the Effect of Violent Video