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Experimental Variables and Controls Quiz

#1

In an experiment investigating the effect of light intensity on plant growth, what would be the dependent variable?

The height of the plants
Explanation

Dependent variable is what is observed and measured in response to changes in the independent variable.

#2

Which type of variable remains constant and is not manipulated in an experiment?

Control variable
Explanation

Control variable remains unchanged to isolate the effects of the independent variable.

#3

Which of the following is an example of a qualitative variable?

Color
Explanation

Qualitative variables are descriptive and do not have numerical values.

#4

Which of the following is an example of a controlled variable?

The temperature of a room
Explanation

Controlled variables are kept constant throughout the experiment to ensure consistency.

#5

Which of the following is NOT a type of experimental design?

Longitudinal study
Explanation

Longitudinal study is an observational research method, not an experimental design.

#6

Which of the following is an example of a discrete variable?

Number of siblings
Explanation

Discrete variables have distinct, separate values and cannot be subdivided.

#7

Which of the following is an example of an independent variable in an experiment?

Temperature
Explanation

Independent variable is what is manipulated by the researcher.

#8

What is the purpose of a control group in an experiment?

To provide a basis for comparison
Explanation

Control group serves as a standard of comparison for the experimental group.

#9

What is the difference between an independent variable and a dependent variable?

Independent variable is manipulated, while dependent variable is observed.
Explanation

Independent variable is controlled and manipulated by the researcher, while the dependent variable is measured and observed as a response to changes in the independent variable.

#10

What is the purpose of randomization in an experimental design?

To reduce the impact of confounding variables
Explanation

Randomization helps to evenly distribute potential confounding variables among different groups.

#11

What is the role of a placebo in a clinical trial?

To serve as a control for the placebo effect
Explanation

Placebo helps to differentiate between the actual treatment effects and psychological responses.

#12

What is the purpose of replication in an experiment?

To ensure the reliability of the results
Explanation

Replication confirms the reliability and validity of the findings by repeating the experiment.

#13

In a drug trial, what might be a potential confounding variable?

The gender of the participants
Explanation

Confounding variables are external factors that may influence the outcome and need to be controlled.

#14

What is the purpose of blinding in an experiment?

To ensure the participants are unaware of which group they belong to
Explanation

Blinding prevents bias by keeping participants unaware of their assigned treatment.

#15

What is the purpose of a crossover study design?

To minimize the carryover effects of treatments
Explanation

Crossover design helps to control for carryover effects by administering treatments to each participant in a different sequence.

#16

What is the purpose of counterbalancing in experimental design?

To control for order effects
Explanation

Counterbalancing ensures that all treatment orders are equally represented to eliminate the influence of order effects.

#17

What is the main advantage of using a matched pairs design in an experiment?

It controls for individual differences more effectively
Explanation

Matched pairs design matches participants based on relevant variables to control for individual differences.

#18

What is the purpose of a factorial design in experimental research?

To examine the interaction between two or more independent variables
Explanation

Factorial design explores how multiple independent variables interact to influence the dependent variable.

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