Discussion Assignment 1
Chapter 1
D1.1:Compare the terms active independent variable and attribute independent variable.
What are the similarities and differences?
Active independent variables and attribute independent variables are different since, in active
independent variables, the researcher can manipulate the variable to observe the effect. While in
the attribute independent variable, the variable cannot be manipulated. An active or manipulated
variable can be a new curriculum given to a group during the study. On the other hand, attribute-
independent variables are preexisting attributes (Morgan et al., 2020). The similarities are in their
role of being an independent variable. Another similarity is these independent variables are
needed to find the relationship to the dependent variable.
D1.2: What kind of independent variable (active or attribute) is necessary to infer cause?
Can one always infer cause from this type of independent variable? If so, why? If not, when
can one infer cause and when might causal inferences be more questionable?
The active independent variable is necessary to infer causality in research. However, an active
independent variable doesn’t always infer a cause, even when manipulating the variable. There
has to be a criteria level to have a relationship between the independent and dependent variables.
There are situations in which active independent variables might be considered more
questionable, such as in an ecological real-world situation where over-control can cause to much
generalization.
D1.3: What is the difference between the independent variable and the dependent variable?
The independent and dependent variables differ because the independent variable is manipulated,
and the dependent variable changes. The relationship between the two variables is what research
is being tested for.
D1.4: Compare and contrast associational, difference, and descriptive types of research
questions.
The three types of research, contrast associational, difference, and descriptive, have different
research objectives and require other methods. The associational study looks for the relationship
between two or more variables and looks for correlation, not causation. Difference research
compares means or distributions between groups. Descriptive research looks at characterizing
and not relationships.
D1.5: Write a research question and a corresponding hypothesis regarding variables of
interest to you but not in the HSB dataset. Is it an associational, difference, or descriptive
question?
The research question is, “Does physical exercise frequency influence the job performance of
employees working in online content marketing.” This research type is a difference question.
The hypothesis is that a difference exists between physical exercise and job performance for
those working in online marketing.
D1.6: Using one or more of the following HSB variables, religion, mosaic pattern test, and
visualization score
(a.)Write an associational question.
Is there a correlation between a student's religious affiliation and performance in school?
(b.)Write a difference question.
