Question

Researchers are interested in the relationship between exercise and memory. Half of the participants used in this study are male, and half are female. Half the participants walk on a treadmill for 30 minutes, while the other half watches a 30 minute nature video. All participants then complete the Wechsler Memory Scale.

(a) Is the study primarily a correlational study, or an experiment? Why do you give the answer you did?

(b) For each study, what are the conceptual variables and corresponding operational definitions of those variables? For experiments, specify the independent and dependent variables.

(c) Provide a possible hypothesis that the researchers may be trying to test. (4 points each)

Answer 1

A. This is an experimental study, as the researchers are controlling and manipulating the variable, which is exercise. The researchers make the participants exercise or watch nature video, and see its effect on memory. In a correlational study, the researchers do not have control over the variable and simply measure the association between two variables as occurring naturally in the environment, which is not the case in this study.

B. The Independent variable for one group is walking on the treadmill for 30 minutes, and for the other group is watching nature documentary for 30 minutes. The dependent variable is the memory as measured on the Wechsler's memory scale.

C. The hypothesis would be: To measure the effect of treadmill walking and watching nature video on memory performance.