Dr. Ostrofsky is investigating the effect of high room temperatures on aggressive behaviour in preschoolers. Half of the children are in a classroom where the temperature is a warm 31°C and half are in a classroom where the temperature is a normal 25°C degrees. Dr. Ostrofsky measures the number of hitting incidents that occur in each classroom. In this study, what is the term for the temperature of the room?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The temperature of the room is being deliberately manipulated by the researcher and is therefore the independent variable in the study. It is not the control group, because the control group usually receives no treatment or intervention. It is not the dependent variable, because the number of hitting incidents is the outcome being measured and is dependent on the independent variable (temperature). It is not the experimental group, because both the warm and normal temperature groups are considered experimental groups.

Dr Ostrofsky Is Investigating the Effect of High Room Temperatures