9/22-23 Experiments and Statistics

Identifying Independent Variables and Dependent Variables

For the following statements create a hypothesis (Your hypothesis should, theoretically, be testable).  Then identify the IV and DV.

1.      Blondes have more fun.

Hypothesis: Changing people’s hair color to blonde will increase the amount of fun that they have.

IV ____________________ DV __________________

2.   A rolling stone gathers no moss.

     Hypothesis: _________________________________________________

     IV ____________________ DV __________________

3.   Familiarity breeds contempt.

     Hypothesis: _________________________________________________

     IV ____________________ DV __________________

4.   When the cat’s away, the mouse will play.

     Hypothesis: _________________________________________________

     IV ____________________ DV __________________

5.   Absence makes the heart grow fonder.

     Hypothesis: _________________________________________________

     IV ____________________ DV __________________

6.   An apple a day keeps the doctor away.

     Hypothesis: _________________________________________________

     IV ____________________ DV __________________

7. Fences make good neighbors.

     Hypothesis: _________________________________________________

     IV ____________________ DV __________________

8. The early bird catches the worm.

     Hypothesis: _________________________________________________

     IV ____________________ DV __________________

Name the IV, DV, control group, and experimental group for each of the following scenario.

1. A researcher is interested in how the activity level of 4-year-olds is affected by viewing Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.  He shows one group a 30-minute video of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and another group a 30-minute video of Barney.

IV:____________________________DV:_____________________________

Experimental group:_______________________________

Control group:_____________________________________

2. A researcher wants to test a new drug designed to increase the ability of teenagers with ADHD to take accurate notes in class.

IV:____________________________DV:_____________________________

Experimental group:_______________________________

Control group:_____________________________________

3. A physiological psychologist wants to know whether exposure to testosterone in adult female rats increases their aggressive behavior.

IV:____________________________DV:_____________________________

Experimental group:_______________________________

Control group:_____________________________________

4. A social psychologist is interested in whether people will enjoy a video game more if they are paid for playing it.

IV:____________________________DV:_____________________________

Experimental group:_______________________________

Control group:_____________________________________

5. An industrial psychologist wants to see if cooling the room temperature may have an impact on productivity of workers on an assembly line.

IV:____________________________DV:_____________________________

Experimental group:_______________________________

Control group:_____________________________________

Start/Finish Worksheet

Term	Define the term in your own words	Give an example:
Discrete Variable
Dichotomy
Trichotomy
Continuous Variable
Continuum
Measures of Central Tendency
Mode
Median
Mean
Measures of Variability
Range
Standard  Deviation
Distribution
Histogram
Normal  Curve
Skew
Outlier