Name:
Hypothesis & Variables
Independent Variable - we change (ONLY 1 thing changes)
Dependent Variable - the thing we measure(#)
Constant Variables - stay the same
Control Group - “normal” ‘usual” “baseline”
Please identify the independent and dependent variables in the following descriptions of
experiments and write a hypothesis (If….(IV), then…. (DV), because….):
1. A comprehension test was given to students after they had studied textbook material
either in silence or with the television turned on.
Independent Variable:
Dependent Variable:
Constants:
Hypothesis:
2. You water three sunflower plants with salt water. Each plant receives a different
concentration of salt solution. A fourth plant receives pure water. After a two week
period the height is measured.
Independent Variable:
Dependent Variable:
Constants:
Control Group:
Hypothesis:
3. Workers were assigned to one of two conditions. One group completed a stress
management training program; another group of workers did not participate in the
training. The number of sick days taken by these workers was examined for the two
subsequent months.
Independent Variable:
Dependent Variable:
Constants:
Control Group:
Hypothesis:
4. Students at a university were split into two groups and each received a different text
for a philosophy course. One group received a traditional textbook, while the other
group received an interactive textbook on a tablet computer. After the course, the final
exam marks between the two groups were compared.
Independent Variable:
Dependent Variable:
Constants:
Hypothesis:
Use the following hypotheses to identify the variables:
1. If people drink energy drinks, then they will be more aggressive and yell more often.
Independent Variable:
Dependent Variable:
2. If a person spends more time with a cat or dog, then they will have less stress.
Independent Variable:
Dependent Variable:
3. If people spend more time using social media, then they will be less able to express
themselves in person.
Independent Variable:
Dependent Variable:
4. If someone eats breakfast in the morning, then they will do better on the test.
Independent Variable:
Dependent Variable:
5. If a person takes a nap in the afternoon, then that person will be less irritable for the
rest of the day.
Independent Variable:
Dependent Variable: