Question 1165483: A psychologist records how many words participants recall from a list under threedifferent conditions: large reward for each word recalled, small reward for each word recalled, and no reward.
a. What is the independent variable? _______________
b. What is the dependent variable? _______________
c. What kind of scale is being used
to measure the dependent variable? ______________
Answer by CPhill(2138)   (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website! This is a classic experiment setup. Here are the answers based on the principles of experimental design:
## a. What is the independent variable?
The independent variable (IV) is the factor the experimenter **manipulates** or changes.
* **Independent Variable:** **Type (or Amount) of Reward**
* **Levels:** Large Reward, Small Reward, and No Reward.
## b. What is the dependent variable?
The dependent variable (DV) is the factor that is **measured** to see if the manipulation of the IV had an effect.
* **Dependent Variable:** **Number of Words Recalled** (Memory performance).
## c. What kind of scale is being used to measure the dependent variable?
Scales of measurement describe the nature of the numbers assigned to the observations.
* **Dependent Variable Measurement:** The number of words recalled (e.g., 5 words, 10 words, 15 words).
* **Scale:** **Ratio Scale**
### Why Ratio Scale?
A ratio scale has all the properties of an interval scale (equal intervals/differences are meaningful) plus:
1. **A True Zero Point:** A score of zero (0 words recalled) represents the complete absence of the property being measured (the absence of recall).
2. **Ratios are Meaningful:** Recalling 10 words is literally twice as many as recalling 5 words.
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