In Snyder and Haugen's research on obesity and social status (1994, 1995), male students were shown a picture of a normal or obese female student before having a phone conversation with the female student. In this study, the independent variable was the
A) normal or overweight woman's picture.
B) social skills of the woman being interviewed.
C) conversation topic chosen by the students.
D) status of the male student.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The independent variable is the factor being manipulated by the researchers, in this case, the picture shown to the male students. The study aimed to determine the impact of the female student's weight (as depicted in the picture) on the social status attributed to her by the male students, and their subsequent treatment of her during the phone conversation. Therefore, the picture shown is the independent variable, not the social skills of the female student, conversation topic, or the male student's status.

In Snyder and Haugen's Research on Obesity and Social Status