A medical doctor believes that the presence of aromatherapy will reduce the anxiety of first-time mothers-to-be during labour and will increase their reported satisfaction with their care at his hospital. He randomly assigns mothers to give birth in a room either with or without aromatherapy. What is the independent variable in this example?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The independent variable in this example is the room environment, specifically whether or not aromatherapy is present. This is the variable that the doctor is manipulating in order to see its effect on anxiety levels and satisfaction with care. The other options (anxiety level, number of previous birthing experiences, and satisfaction with hospital care) are all potential dependent variables that may be affected by the presence or absence of the aromatherapy, but they are not the independent variable being manipulated by the doctor.

A Medical Doctor Believes That the Presence of Aromatherapy Will