Question

1. What is the difference between independent and dependent variables? In this hypothesis, "As the number of violent movies watched by children increases, the amount of aggression will increase," the underlined sections are the variables. Identify which variable is the independent variable and which is the dependent variable and explain why.

2.Objective theory must be practical. What does this mean? Objective theory must have quantitative consistency. What does this mean? Why is it powerful? Use an example to justify your answer.

3.Your beliefs on the nature of free will align with how you view nature and nurture. What does it mean to be a determinist who supports a nature-based argument? What does it mean to be one who believes in free-will who supports nurture-based arguments? How do these map onto the paradigms of communication research?

Answer 1

Note: This response is in UK English, please paste the response to MS Word and you should be able to spot discrepancies easily. You may elaborate the answer based on personal views or your classwork if necessary.

(Answer) (1) DV – Most experiments study the behaviour of the DV under the influence of the IV. In other words, the DV depends on the IV to have some changes. The IV can be independent and hence does not depend on any element to function.

IV – Violent films – Because they do not depend on any variable to change/function. They are independent.

DV – Aggression in children – The aggression is dependent on the level of exposure to the violent films. Without the violent films, the aggression level might not change and hence cannot be measured. Therefore, the aggression level is dependent on the violent films.

(2) The word “objective” means based on facts and not opinions or emotions. It is opposite to the word “subjective,” which means that a statement is subject to change based on opinion, situation, person etc.

Objective theory is when a theoretical concept is entirely surmised, analysed and concluded based on facts. Objective theory is actually powerful because it has quantitative consistency. This means that objectively 2+2 will always be equal to 4. The president of America may not like that fact, or may disagree with it. But, 2+2 will always equal 4, no matter who refutes the objective fact. Also, objective facts are universal. This means that 2+2 will be 4 in America, China and everywhere in the universe.

(3) A determinist is one who believes that occurrences, free will, natural law etc are all causally linked. In other words, they all have a cause and effect relationship. Considering that it is natural law for a human to nurture their surroundings and the life it holds, it can be said that free will aligns with nature and nurture. If free will would support nature-based arguments it would be because human beings seek their personal well-being. Personal well-being is only possible when the environment is nurturing and helps humans grow mentally and physically. The purpose of communication research is to find communication methods that are not only the most comprehensive but also the most influential to the reader/listener. Through a “determinist” logic of all things being connected in cause and effect, it becomes easy to communicate the relationship between elements like free-will, nature, nurture, well-being etc.