Experimental Variables Worksheet Name
MA-WS2-072503-10 Hour
For each of the following experiments, please identify a dependent variable, an independent variable, and
a hypothesis that the experimenter might test.
1. Developmental psychologists want to know if exposing children to public television improves their reading
skills.
IV: watching public TV DV: reading skills
2. Physiological psychologists wonder about the relationship between the intake of wine and emotional
reactions to frightening stimuli.
IV: intake of wine DV: emotional reactions
3. Sensory psychologists want to know whether birds also experience visual illusions.
IV: visual illusions DV: whether the birds react or not
4. Operant psychologists want to know whether reinforcing (rewarding) comments will make people work
harder on an assembly line.
IV: reenforcing comments DV: how hard the people work
5. Cognitive psychologists wonder what kind of diagrams are easiest for people to remember.
IV: kind of diagram DV: memory
6. Comparative psychologist study whether a young monkey will prefer to spend time with a pretend monkey
made of wire that also provides milk or a pretend monkey that is covered with cloth but provides no milk.
IV: wire versus cloth monkey DV: young monkey’s preference
7. A clinical psychologist wants to know whether people who have had psychotherapy are more or less likely
to have problems in the future.
IV: the person having had psychotherapy or not DV: problems in the future
8. A social psychologist wants to know whether being polite or rude to people tends to make them more
cooperative.
IV: being polite or rude DV: cooperation
9. An organizational psychologist test to see if wearing name tags make the employees happier with their work.
IV: wearing name tags DV: happiness of workers
10. A personality psychologist explores whether extroverted people have more fun at parties.
IV: extroversion DV: having fun at parties
