A researcher was interested in studying stress as it related to academic performance incalculus. She also believed that humor reduced stress and might increase academicperformance. She had two classes one hour apart, one at 8 a.m. and one at 10 a.m. onMonday, Wednesday, and Friday. The students self selected into the classes. The researchercollected baseline stress data at the beginning of the semester. In one class she utilized humoron a daily bases and was sure to provide the class with at least one scripted joke or shorthumorous video per day. In the other class, she taught the students as normal with littlehumor, no scripted jokes, and no funny videos. On the day of the midterm, she measuredtheir stress levels before giving the calculus exam. She gave each class the same calculus testand recorded their achievements levels on the exams. Stress was measured using a 10question instrument which summated the 10 questions into one stress construct. Theinstrument had been around for decades and had high reliability and validity measures.
-The dependent variable(s) for the quasi-experimental difference question in the stress/humor scenario is:
A) Humor/no humor and stress level
B) Calculus score and stress levels
C) Day of week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) and time of day
D) Change over time

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The dependent variables in this scenario are academic performance in calculus (measured by the exam scores) and stress levels (measured by the 10-question instrument). The independent variable is the use of humor in one class and the lack of humor in the other class. The day of the week and time of day are not relevant to the research question being asked. Change over time is not mentioned in the scenario.

A Researcher Was Interested in Studying Stress as It Related