Dependent Test Experiment

The hypothesis is that talking on a cell phone impairs driving skills. This experiment would take place in a controlled driving range where factors like weather conditions and the type of car driven would be identical. It is important to eliminate outside factors that might skew the results. It is the researchers job to regulate the experiment in all areas so that the only difference between the control test subjects and the dependent test subjects is the use of cell phones.
The experiment would take place at a real live course where the test subject would be alone in the car without anyone in danger of being hit if he or she got off course. The driving range would be a mapped-out road for the test subject to follow. The course would not be easy and straight; it would have curves along with cones and stop signs. It would also include cardboard cut-outs and remote control pedestrians, bicycles, parked cars and other hazards that the driver would need to respond to. Researchers would keep track of the success of the driver throughout the course. Points would be deducted for errors, such as, hitting pedestrians, driving outside the lines, extended time, etc. This …show more content…
In this case, the control would be the test subjects that are not on cell phones. The dependent variable is the variable a researcher is interested in which would be the test subjects driving skills. An independent variable is a variable believed to affect the dependent variable. The independent variable is the cell phone. The control group and the dependent variable would both go through the same course. The only difference between the control and dependent group is that the dependent test subjects would be using the cell phone. Cell phone use could include texting, communicating through the media and phone