Question

identify the controls and variables
smithers thinks that a special juice will increase the productivity of workers. he creates two groups of 50 workers each and assigns each group the same task (in this case, theyre supposed to staple a set of papers). group a is given the special juice to drink while they work. group b is not given the special juice. after an hour, smithers counts how many stacks of papers each group has made. group a made 1,587 stacks, group b made 2,113 stacks.

1. control group:
2. independent (manipulated) variable:
3. dependent (responding) variable:
4. what should smithers conclusion be?
5. how could this experiment be improved?

homer notices that his shower is covered in a strange green slime. his friend barney tells him that coconut juice will get rid of the green slime. homer decides to check this out by spraying half of the shower with coconut juice. he sprays the other half of the shower with water. after 3 days of \treatment\ there is no change in the appearance of the green slime on either side of the shower.

1. what was the initial observation?
2. control group:
3. independent (manipulated) variable:
4. dependent (responding) variable:
5. what should homers conclusion be?

Explanation:

1. The control group is the group not receiving the special treatment. In Smithers' experiment, Group B didn't get the special juice, so it's the control group. In Homer's experiment, the half of the shower sprayed with water is the control group as it didn't get the coconut - juice treatment.
2. The independent variable is what the experimenter changes or manipulates. For Smithers, it's the presence or absence of the special juice. For Homer, it's the type of liquid (coconut juice or water).
3. The dependent variable is what is measured or observed as a result of the independent variable. For Smithers, it's the number of paper - stacks made. For Homer, it's the appearance of the green slime.
4. Smithers should conclude that the special juice did not increase productivity since Group B made more paper - stacks. Homer should conclude that coconut juice did not remove the green slime as there was no change on either side.
5. The experiment could be improved by increasing the sample size (more workers or more showers tested), repeating the experiment multiple times, and controlling for other variables (e.g., worker skill level, initial slime thickness).
6. Homer's initial observation was that his shower was covered in a strange green slime.

Answer:

1. Group B
2. Special juice (presence or absence)
3. Number of stacks of papers made
4. The special juice did not increase productivity.
5. Increase sample size, repeat the experiment, control other variables.
6. The shower is covered in a strange green slime.
7. The half of the shower sprayed with water
8. Type of liquid (coconut juice or water)
9. Appearance of the green slime
10. Coconut juice did not remove the green slime.