CONTROLS AND VARIABLESBiology

Vocabulary• Control

• The variable or group that stays the same, is unaltered.

• Independent (Manipulated) Variable • The variable or group that is changed by the

experimenter.

• Dependent (Responding, Measured) Variable• The variable that responds to the independent variable.

Example• Question: Which video game causes the highest level of stress?

• Hypothesis: If people play Call of Duty, then they will have the highest level of stress compared to Pokemon Snap, Mario Smash Bros., and Tetris.

Find the Control and Variables• Experiment: 10 people play each type of video game for 1 hour in same room. 2 people sit in room in front of tv with no video game. We measure their stress level. Call of Duty stress levels were 10% higher than the other games.

• Control group: 2 people not playing video games

• Independent Variable: Type of Video game

• Dependent Variable: Level of Anxiety

Answer choices:a) The Special Drink increases the productivity of workersb) The Special Drink decreases the productivity of workersc) The Special Drinkd) Group A (given special drink)e) Group B (not given special drink)f) Productivity of workers (# of stacks of papers)

Answer choices:a) The ½ of the shower he sprays with coconut juiceb) The ½ of the shower he sprays with waterc) Type of liquid usedd) Coconut juicee) There is green slime in the shower!f) Green Slimeg) Coconut Juice gets rid of green slimeh) Coconut Juice does not get rid of green slimei) The whole shower

Answer choices:a) Strength of the mice (ability to push block)b) Exposure to radiowavesc) The 10 unexposed miced) The radiowave-exposed micee) Bart

Identify:1. Control Group-2. Independent Variable-3. Dependent Variable-4. Explain whether data supports the ad’s claim about

this product.

Group Task1. Design Lisa’s ExperimentBe sure to identify:- Control group- Independent variable- Dependent variable