Identify the independent variable in the following hypothesis: "Mothers of infants born with spina bifida who participate in support groups report higher levels of confidence when caring for their infants than do mothers who do not participate in support groups."
A) Confidence in caring for their infants
B) Infants with spina bifida
C) Mothers of infants with spina bifida
D) Support group participation

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

An independent variable is a stimulus or activity that is manipulated or varied by the researcher to create an effect on the dependent variable.In this example,use of support groups is the "treatment" that is being used to manipulate levels of confidence in caring for their infants.Infants with spina bifida are part of the criteria for inclusion in the study.The level of confidence in caring for their infants is the dependent variable.It is measured as a response to whether or not the mothers received the "treatment" of using a support group.The mothers of infants with spina bifida are criteria for inclusion as subjects in the study and are not variables.

Identify the Independent Variable in the Following Hypothesis: "Mothers of Infants