In a Study Designed to Test a New Antidepressant, a Large

question 184

Multiple Choice

In a study designed to test a new antidepressant, a large number of outpatient psychiatric patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups. One of the groups was given the drug as a pill. The other group was given identical-looking inert pills. All participants were tested in the morning. The level of depression of each subject was measured by three psychologists independently, using the Beck Depression Inventory. Which was the independent variable in this study?

• A) the drug
• B) the level of agitation
• C) the Beck Depression Inventory
• D) the assignment of the participants to groups

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