Question

In a study about dieting and weight loss, N=80 subjects were gathered to participate. All of the participants were approximately 20-25% overweight (from their ideal weight), with no habits of exercising. The researchers randomly assigned these participants into four different categories: participants in Category I (N=20) ate the traditional low-caloric diet, participants in Category II (N=20) ate the ketogenic diet, participants in Category III (N=20) were told to eat whatever they want as if they were not on a diet at all, and participants in Category IV were ate an intermittent fasting diet. The amount of participant’s weight loss (in percentage) was recorded after 6 weeks of dieting period.

1. Identify the independent variable(s) and their level(s). 2pt

2. Identify the dependent variable. 2pt

3. What type of data is the independent variable(s) (discrete or continuous). 1pt

4. What scale of measurement is the dependent variable? 2pt

Answer 1

1. Here, independent variable is participant with four levels: participants in Category I (take traditional low-caloric diet), participants in Category II (take the ketogenic diet), participants in Category III (were not on a diet at all), and participants in Category IV (take an intermittent fasting diet).

2. Here, dependent variable is weight loss (in percentage).

3. The data type of independent variable is discrete in nature.

4. The measure scale for dependent variable is in ratio, i.e., percentage.