To investigate whether or not sending text messages while driving impacts driving ability,we had 100 participants (50 men and 50 women)drive an obstacle course under one of the following conditions: 1)no texting while driving,2)sending five text messages while driving,or 3)sending 10 text messages while driving.We measured the accuracy with which the subjects drove the obstacle course from a scale of 1 to 10 (1 = poor and 10 = excellent).Why is a control necessary in this experiment?
A)The control is used for the subjects who do not know how to send text messages.
B)The control helps determine if men are better drivers than women.
C)The control helps control for the lurking variables.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The control group is necessary in this experiment to help control for any lurking variables that may impact driving ability, such as age, driving experience, or previous experience with texting while driving. By having a group that does not text while driving, we can compare their driving performance to those who did, and determine if any differences in accuracy can be attributed to the texting itself or other variables.

To Investigate Whether or Not Sending Text Messages While Driving