In studying the effects of hunger on competition, a researcher has subjects skip one, two, or three meals and then play a competitive game. She notes the number of points scored by subjects in the three hunger groups. In this example, the independent variable is
A) the number of points scored.
B) the number of games played.
C) the amount of food consumed.
D) the number of meals missed.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The independent variable is the variable that is deliberately manipulated by the researcher, which in this case is the number of meals skipped. The other choices (number of points scored, number of games played and amount of food consumed) are dependent variables as they are being measured by the researcher and are not being deliberately manipulated.

In Studying the Effects of Hunger on Competition, a Researcher