Psychology Test 2 research sample quiz

A dependent variable in an experiment refers to the variable

that changes value because of the systematic manipulation in the experiment

In a study designed to test the effects of a new drug developed to treat Alzheimer's disease, half the patients were given the actual drug while the other half of the patients were given a placebo (sugar pill). In this study, the experimental group is

the group who received the actual thing

A researcher is measuring the heart rate of subjects as an index of anxiety. In this study, heart rate is

An operational definition of anxiety

The experimental group

Consists of the subjects who receive some special treatment with regard to the independent variable

A group of researchers wanted to determine if people will eat more food in a room painted red or a room painted blue. Half the participants in this study ate in a red room and half ate in a blue room. The researchers then measured how much food was consumed in each of the two rooms. In this study, the independent variable was

The color of the room

Researchers studying the effects of sleep deprivation tested the physical coordination skills of 25- year-old males who had been sleep deprived for either 24, 36, or 48 hours. In this study, the dependent variable would be

The physical coordination skills of the men in the study

A group of researchers is investigating the effects of ginkgo biloba on memory. During the first part of the study of animals learn to run a amaze while they are not receiving the supplement; in the second part of the study the animals learn to run a different maze while they are not receiving the supplement. The second part, the animals learn to run a different maze while receiving the supplement. The researchers count how many trials it takes before the animals can run the maze pattern without making any errors. In this study, the independent variable is??? -

The presence or absence of the food supplement in the animals diet

A hypothesis is

a tentative statement about the relationship between two or more variables

In an experiment, the variable that is controlled or manipulated by the researcher is called the

independent variable

If we view an experiment as an attempt to establish a cause - effect relationship, the __________ variable would be the cause, and the _________ variable would be the effect

independent, dependent

Researchers who were studying memory had participants learn a list of words after consuming a soft drink with caffeine or a decaffeinated version of the same soft drink. The researchers then counted the number of words that were recalled from the list. In this study, the type of beverage (caffeinated or decaffeinated) would be

the independent variable

Researchers who were studying plant growth raised plants in two seperate rooms. One room had taped conversations playing 24 hours a day; the other room was silent. The researchers found that the plants drew better in the room which had the conversations playing. In this study, the type of room (conversation or silent) would be

the independent variable