Question

A recent study reports that elementary school students who were given a nutritious breakfast each morning had higher test scores than students who did not receive the breakfast.
For this study, what is the independent variable?

a. the students who were given the nutritious breakfast
b. the students who were not given the nutritious breakfast
c. whether or not a breakfast was given to the students
d. the test scores for the students

Answer 1

Answer:

The answer is C.

Explanation:

In experimental research, the independent variable is unchanging and may or may not have an effect on the dependent variable (in this case, the test scores). For this reason, idependent variables are also called explanatory variables.

An easy way to remember the difference is that independent variables change the outcome of dependent variables.