Independent vs Dependent Variables

If students spend more time using TikTok, then they will read fewer books. Identify the independent variable.

• amount of time on TikTok

• number of books read

• There isn't one.

Taking a nap in the afternoon makes people more focused for the rest of the day. Identify the dependent variable.

• Taking a nap

• Being focused

• There isn't one.

Spending time with a family dog decreases the amount of stress someone is feeling. What is the dependent variable?

• time with the family dog

• amount of stress

• There isn't one.

Eating breakfast in the morning increases the ability to learn in school. Identify the independent variable.

• eating breakfast

• ability to learn in school

• There isn't one.

What is Ms. Lawyer's favorite park at Walt Disney World?

• Epcot

• Animal Kingdom

• Magic Kingdom

• Hollywood Studios

Students watched a cartoon either alone or with others, then rated how funny they found the cartoon to be on a scale of 1-10. Identify the independent variable.

• watching a cartoon alone or with others

• rating how funny the cartoons were

• There is not one.

One group of students read a reading passage in silence and one group of students read the passage with the TV on in the background. They both took a comprehension test to see what they understood from the passage and the results were compared. Identify the dependent variable.

• reading in silence or with the TV on

• results of reading comprehension test

• There isn't one.

What team is it?

• Bengals

• 49ers

• Bills

• Chiefs

Workers at a company were assigned to one of two conditions: One group completed a stress management training system; another group of workers did not participate in the training. The number of sick days taken by these workers was counted and studied for the next 2 months. Identify the dependent variable.

• stress management training or not

• number of sick days

• There isn't one.

Students at a local college were split into two groups and each received a different textbook for a course. Once group received a traditional textbook while the other recieved an interactive textbook on a tablet computer. After the course, the final exam grades between the two groups of students were compared. Identify the independent variable.

• type of textbook

• final exam grades

• There isn't one.