Question

a health psychologist wants to test the hypothesis that yellow hospital rooms will shorten the recovery time for surgical patients when compared to recovery times of patients in standard white hospital rooms. half of the patients are randomly assigned to yellow room, the other half to white rooms. the number of days until recovery is noted for each patient.

a counseling psychologist wants to know whether the methods in a new self - help book are effective. the book promotes a special set of
efunctional\ writing exercises for individuals with ptsd. the psychologist has one group of clients complete these
efunctional\ exercises while another group of clients are asked to complete ordinary journal entries. the level of ptsd symptoms are measured and compared between the two groups of clients.

Explanation:

1. In the first experiment:

• The independent variable is the color of the hospital room (yellow or white) as it is the variable being manipulated.
• The dependent variable is the recovery time since it is what is being measured and is expected to be affected by the room - color.
• The control group is the patients in white rooms as they represent the standard or baseline condition.
• The experimental group is the patients in yellow rooms as they are exposed to the treatment (the different - colored room).

1. In the second experiment:

• The independent variable is the type of writing exercise ("Refunctional" or ordinary journal entries) as it is the variable being changed.
• The dependent variable is the level of PTSD symptoms as it is the outcome being measured.
• The control group is the clients doing ordinary journal entries as they are the comparison group.
• The experimental group is the clients doing "Refunctional" writing exercises as they are exposed to the new treatment.

Answer:

1. Yellow Rooms:

• Independent Variable: Yes
• Dependent Variable: No
• Control Group: No
• Experimental Group: Yes

1. Recovery Times:

• Independent Variable: No
• Dependent Variable: Yes
• Control Group: No
• Experimental Group: No

1. Patients in Yellow Rooms:

• Independent Variable: No
• Dependent Variable: No
• Control Group: No
• Experimental Group: No

1. Patients in White Rooms:

• Independent Variable: No
• Dependent Variable: No
• Control Group: Yes
• Experimental Group: No

1. "Refunctional" writing exercise:

• Independent Variable: Yes
• Dependent Variable: No
• Control Group: No
• Experimental Group: Yes