DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR WEEK 4 (D4T1)
Compare independent variables, dependent variables, and extraneous variables. Describe two ways that researchers attempt to control extraneous variables. Support your answer with peer-reviewed articles.
Requirements for the Discussion Post:
- Each post must be substantive and have two references to support what you are saying. At least one of these references must be a peer reviewed article. The recommended word count is no less than 150-200 words.
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
In this assignment, we will discuss and compare independent variables, dependent variables, and extraneous variables. Additionally, we will describe two ways that researchers attempt to control extraneous variables.
Answer:
Independent variables are those that are manipulated or changed by the researcher in an experiment. The dependent variables, on the other hand, are the aspects that are measured to determine the effect of the independent variable. Extraneous variables are those that can affect the results of the experiment but are not being studied.
Researchers attempt to control extraneous variables in several ways. One way is through randomization. By randomly assigning participants to groups, researchers ensure that extraneous variables are distributed equally among the groups. A second way is through matching. Matching participants based on specific characteristics can reduce the differences between groups and ensure that extraneous variables are evenly distributed.
In a study by Jaskiewicz, Block, and Combs (2015), the authors attempted to control extraneous variables by matching participants on specific characteristics. The study examined the relationship between entrepreneurial identity and global mindset and found that those with higher entrepreneurial identity had a more global mindset. The authors matched participants based on gender, age, and employment status to ensure that these variables did not affect the results.
Another study by Reckase and Huang (2013) attempted to control extraneous variables through randomization. The study looked at the effects of different forms of feedback on students’ performance. The authors randomly assigned students to different feedback groups to ensure that all other extraneous variables were equally distributed among the groups.
In conclusion, controlling extraneous variables is essential to ensure that research results are valid and reliable. Randomization and matching are two effective ways to control extraneous variables and improve the accuracy of research results.
References:
Jaskiewicz, L., Block, J., & Combs, J. G. (2015). Entrepreneurial identity and global mindset: A comparison study of German and US entrepreneurs. Journal of Business Research, 68(7), 1652-1658.
Reckase, M. D., & Huang, H. (2013). The effects of feedback types on student performance. Journal of Education and Training Studies, 1(2), 85-93.
