Q Page of 2 ZOOM Variables and Attributes Assignment Variables and their attributes are at the heart of examining relationships in the social sciences. Key to formulating such relationships are independent and dependent variables. 1. Devise 2 sociological relationships, each involving both an independent variable (IV) and dependent variable (DV). 2. Express each sociological relationship as a sentence. Each sentence should contain only 1 independent variable (IV) and 1 dependent variable (DV) and should use words that specify how the two variables are related to each other. The IV should be stated first in the sentence. 3. Identify which is the IV and which is the DV in each statement. 4. Identify the attributes of each variable clearly. * If you’re having a hard time with this assignment, review the examples in this handout. Don’t copy examples from the book. Examples: Relationship: “Men enjoy chocolate ice cream more than vanilla ice cream". This is incorrect because there is only one variable—flavor of ice cream. “Men” in this sentence is a constant, not a variable. Correct: “Men enjoy ice cream more than women". • The IV is gender (attributes: male, female) • The DV is enjoyment of ice cream (attributes: enjoys a lot, enjoys somewhat, enjoys a little). Relationship: “High school graduates and college graduates hold jobs.” This is incorrect because it really specifies a constant (holding jobs) that is associated with both attributes of the variable “education level” Correct: “College graduates hold higher paying jobs than do high school graduates.” • The IV is “education level” (attributes: high school graduate, college graduate) • The DV is amount of income (attributes: less than $35,000, more than $35,001, etc.) Incorrect: “Grades are related to effort.” • This statement does have 2 variables but is incorrect because the nature of the relationship is not specified. Correct: “The greater one’s effort, the higher one’s grades.” • The IV is “amount of effort” (attributes: great effort, average effort, minimal effort.) • The DV is “grades” (attributes: A, B, C, D, F) GRADING RUBRIC POINTS EARNED POINTS POSSIBLE Relationship 1 2 Independent Variable 2 Attributes of IV 2 Dependent Variable 2 Attributes of DV 2 Relationship 2 2 Independent Variable 2 Attributes of IV 2 Dependent Variable 2 Attributes of DV 2 TOTAL 20