Dr. Keller has individuals run on a treadmill for 0, 15, or 30 minutes and then measures their self-reported mood. In this hypothetical study, the independent variable is
A) the self-reported mood.
B) the individuals who run for 15 or 30 minutes.
C) the individuals who run for 0 minutes.
D) the number of minutes individuals run on the treadmill.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The independent variable is the factor that is manipulated or varied by the researcher to measure its effect on the dependent variable, which in this study is self-reported mood. In this case, the independent variable is the number of minutes individuals run on the treadmill (0, 15, or 30 minutes). Therefore, the best choice is D. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect as they refer to either the dependent variable (self-reported mood) or a subset of the independent variable (individuals who run for 15 or 30 minutes or 0 minutes).

Dr Keller Has Individuals Run on a Treadmill for 0