Question

1. What type of study is this?

2. Based on description of the study, what is (are) the dependent variable(s)?

3. Classify the variable(s) you listed in #2 in each of the three ways.

4. What is (are) the independent variables?

5. Classify the variable(s) you listed in #4 in each of the three ways.

6. List two confounding variables that may offset the conclusions of this experiment.

7. What measures could have been taken in order to control for these confounding variable?

A sock company is considering branching off and manufacturing gloves. In order to determine the types of gloves to make and sell, they randomly selected and interviewed 500 people. In the interview, subject was asked their age and profession. Then they were given four different gloves: leather, cotton, fleece and polyester. After trying each pair on, they were told that they could take and keep whichever pair they preferred.

The researchers concluded that lawyers prefer leather gloves, teachers prefer cotton gloves, and adults between 18 and 30 prefer polyester of fleece gloves.

Answer 1

1. This is an experimental study. An experimental study is where a researcher randomly selects a sample and subjects them to some situation (in this case, make them wear gloves), to determine if there is any significant relationship between the outcome and independent variables
2. The dependent variable is the preference of gloves; leather, cotton, fleece and polyester
3. Gloves are categorical in nature and are nominal, since the order of material doesn't matter
4. independent variables are the profession of the test subjects and their age group.
5. Age is a categorical interval variable ( since they have considered age group instead of actual age). Profession is a nominal categorical variable since the order of profession has no sense.
6. The experiment may be offset by the salary of the particular person and the geographical location of the test subjects.
7. The effects of these 2 can be controlled by; a) choosing test subjects from one geographical region only and b) choosing test subjects that fall into a single salary slab. This should ensure that geographical and economic inequalities doesn't affect the outcome.