PSYC 2030 Chapter Notes - Chapter 6: Dependent And Independent Variables
5 Jun 2018
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PSYC 2030 Chapter 6 Notes
Introduction
Independent Variables
• The different treatments to which we expose our participants represent the
independent variable of our experiment.
• To test the hypothesis we have proposed, our independent variable (or treatments)
would be the type of television program that our participants observe.
• Half the children might view a program in which characters behave in a violent or
aggressive manner toward others
• Whereas the other half would watch a program that contains no violence
• Childre’s reatios to the teleisio shos ould eoe the data, or depedet
variable, in our experiment.
• Beause our hypothesis eters o hildre’s aggressio, e ould at to easure (as
our dependent variable) how aggressively children behave after watching each type of
television show.
• A depedet ariale is alled depedet eause its alue presualy depeds o
the independent variable.
• In the present case, we are hypothesizing that future aggression (our dependent
variable) will be greater for children who watch violent programs (one variation of the
independent variable) than for those who watch nonviolent programs (a second
variation of the independent variable).
• If we are careful experimenters and exercise precise control over all other factors that
ay affet hildre’s aggressio, the fidig the patter of results that e hae
anticipated will allow us to draw a strong conclusion
• Watching violent television programs causes children to behave more aggressively
• An experiment similar to the one we have proposed was actually conducted (Liebert &
Baron, 1972).
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