A Researcher Wants to Examine Whether Reading Out Loud Improves

A researcher wants to examine whether reading out loud improves comprehension in 3^rd grade elementary school children. Children are assigned to Group 1 (Bluebirds) or Group 2 (Redbirds) depending on whether they obtain a small plastic bluebird or redbird when they are asked to reach into a cloth bag and pull a bird out of it. Bluebirds and Redbirds are then given a copy of the same story entitled Why birds fly south for the winter? Each child is withdrawn into a small room, individually, and either asked to read the story out loud, or silently. After the story is finished, children are asked to answer the identical set of questions by the examiner.
a) In the above study, identify the independent variable.
b) The independent variable is a type of ______________________ variable.
c ) Identify the dependent variable.
d) What kind of study is this?
e) Having the children pick out red or blue birds from the cloth bag is a procedure to ensure