If you were to design a research study at your work (hospital setting) can you give examples of dependent and independent variables along with any extraneous variable
Your research study could measure the length of stay needed following a particular procedure -- say an appendectomy. The length of time spent in the hospital would be the dependent variable. The independent variable could be the ages of the patients. An extraneous variable could be something that no one has control over -- say the number of visitors or the general health of the patient before the surgery.
Check these sites.
http://www.uncp.edu/home/collierw/ivdv.htm
http://web.mst.edu/~psyworld/extraneous.htm
It might help to review the classical epxerimental method.
An independent variable is the potential stimulus or cause, usually directly manipulated by the experimenter, so it could also be called a manipulative variable.
A dependent variable is the response or measure of results.
Extraneous variables — other than the independent variable — potentially can affect the dependent variable, so they must be controlled. If possible, you try to keep them constant between the experimental and control group.
The experimental group receives the independent variable.
The control group is similar to experimental, except it does not receive the independent variable. Extraneous variables are balanced between experimental and control groups.
Types of experiments
1. Single blind gives the control group a placebo — a substance that is inert, it has no physical effect. Subjects don't know if they are in experimental or control group to reduce placebo effect, a change in behavior solely due to believing that you are getting the independent variable.
2. Double blind keeps both subjects and experimenter ignorant of group setup. Distribution of the independent variable and placebo is controlled by third party. This controls for experimenter bias and self-fulfilling prophecy. This means that experimenters with particular expectations are likely to consciously or unconsciously to bias the experiment and influence it to conform to their expectations.
As an example, suppose you want to find out if fluorides reduce dental cavities. You would find two groups, trying to control the extraneous variables. Extraneous variables are found by surveying previous research in the area. In this case, you would match the groups in terms of previous history of cavities, diet and dental hygiene habits including how and how often they brush their teeth.
The experimental group would get toothpaste with the independent variable, the fluoride, while the control group would not have the fluoride in their toothpaste. The toothpaste without the fluoride would be the placebo.
The dependent variable would be the number of cavities after participating in the experiment for a time. The dependent variable indicates the results, but it is not the results. At the end of the experiment, both groups could have no change in cavities or one of the groups could have a greater reduction in cavities. (Of course, if the fluoride increased cavities, you wouldn't want to use it.) All of these varied results would be indicated in terms of the dependent variable.
If only the subjects do not know who is getting the fluoride, it is a single blind experiment. If both the subjects and experimenter do not know, it is a double blind.
I hope this helps a little more. Thanks for asking.
Sure! When designing a research study in a hospital setting, it's important to identify the dependent variable (DV), independent variable (IV), and any potential extraneous variables.
The dependent variable is the outcome or response variable that researchers are interested in measuring or observing. In a hospital setting, some examples of dependent variables could be:
1. Patient outcomes: This could include variables such as recovery time, mortality rate, or quality of life after a specific medical intervention or treatment.
2. Patient satisfaction: This could involve measuring patient satisfaction scores or feedback after receiving care from different healthcare providers or interventions.
The independent variable is the variable that researchers manipulate or control to examine its effect on the dependent variable. In a hospital setting, examples of independent variables could be:
1. Type of treatment/intervention: This could involve comparing the effectiveness of different treatment options or medications for a specific condition.
2. Healthcare provider characteristics: This could include factors such as experience level, education, or communication style, and how they impact patient outcomes or satisfaction.
Extraneous variables are other variables that may influence the outcome but are not the focus of the study. They are important to be identified and controlled, as they could potentially confound the relationship between the independent and dependent variables. In a hospital setting, some examples of extraneous variables could be:
1. Demographic variables: This could include factors like age, gender, or socioeconomic status, which may have an impact on the outcome but are not directly related to the variables of interest.
2. Co-existing medical conditions: If studying a specific disease or condition, other medical conditions the patients have could potentially influence the outcome and should be taken into account.
When designing a research study, it's important to clearly define the dependent and independent variables, as well as identify and control for potential extraneous variables to ensure the validity and reliability of the study's findings.