Question

You are asked to design a study to examine the relationship between physical activities and incidence of obesity among adolescents. 2.1 What is your independent variable? 2.2 What is your dependent variable? 2.3 How will you measure each, and what level of measurement is this?

Answer 1

Answer 2.1 An independent variable is a factor that is not influenced by anything and it can be controlled and manipulated. Here the physical activity is the independent variable as it can be controlled in the given situation.

Answer 2.2 A dependent variable is said to the outcome of an independent variable. It is a consequence hence cannot be manipulated. In the given scenario, obesity is the dependent variable as it is due to the lack of physical activity.

Answer 2.3 Physical activity can be measured in four dimensions namely, mode, frequency, intensity, and duration. The mode of physical activity refers to a type of physical activity such as walking or running, resistance or strength training. the frequency refers to the number of times or sessions of physical activity performed per unit time such as a week or day. the intensity is the measure of energy expenditure rate in the physical activity. The duration of physical activity is the amount of time the physical activity is performed.

Obesity is measured in terms of body mass index or BMI. BMI values indicate whether the person is underweight, overweight or normal. when the BMI value is more than 30, the person is said to be obese. Obseity is measured based on the wight and hight of the individual.