In an experiment on the relationship between anxiety and eating behavior, some participants are induced to experience high anxiety and some participants are induced to experience low anxiety. The amount of food they eat is then measured. What is the independent variable in this study?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The independent variable is the variable that is manipulated by the researcher, which in this case is the level of induced anxiety. The amount of food eaten is the dependent variable, as it is the variable being measured and is expected to be influenced by the level of anxiety. The number of participants and their weight are not relevant to being the independent variable in this study.

In an Experiment on the Relationship Between Anxiety and Eating