Question

In each of the following sets of variables, which are likely candidates to be treated as independent and which as dependent within a research study?

• Gender, alcohol consumption, and driving record In the following set of variables

• High school GPA (grade point average), university freshman year GPA, choice of university major (selected before enrollment), race/ethnicity, and gender

• Age, race/ethnicity, smoking habits, and occurrence of breast cancer

Explain each answer please.

Answer 1

The values of dependent variables depend on the values of independent variables. The dependent variables represent the output or outcome whose variation is being studied. Independent variables are also called as explanatory variables which explain the variation on dependent variables.

• Gender, alcohol consumption, and driving record

Dependent => driving record

Independent => Gender, alcohol consumption

As the driving record can be explained by gender and alcohol consumption.

• High school GPA (grade point average), university freshman year GPA, choice of university major (selected before enrollment), race/ethnicity, and gender

Dependent => university freshman year GPA

Independent => High school GPA (grade point average),choice of university major (selected before enrollment), race/ethnicity, and gender

The university GPA can be attributed to the following factors lke GPA in high shcool, major , race or gender.

• Age, race/ethnicity, smoking habits, and occurrence of breast cancer

Dependent => occurrence of breast cancer

Independent => Age, race/ethnicity, smoking habits

The occurrence of breast cancer can be attributed to habits such as smoking, age or even race in some cases.