Sapna is interested in the influence of nutrition on reaction time. She assigns participants to eat a salad and fruit for dinner every day for a week or to eat fast food each day. She then brings participants into the lab and asks them to push a button on a keyboard as fast as they can every time they hear a particular sound. What are the operational definitions of the variables in Sapna's study?
A) nutrition; reaction time
B) nutrition; whether participants eat a salad or fast food
C) whether participants eat salad or fast food; how quickly they push the button when they hear the sound
D) whether participants eat salad or fast food; reaction time

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Operational definitions specify how the variables are measured or manipulated in a study. In this case, the independent variable (nutrition) is operationalized as whether participants eat salad or fast food, and the dependent variable (reaction time) is operationalized as how quickly they push the button when they hear the sound.

Sapna Is Interested in the Influence of Nutrition on Reaction