If a hypothesis states that legalized marijuana leads to higher crime rates, which is the dependent variable?

Question

a- Crime Rates

b- Marijuana

c- Legalization

d- Incarceration

Answer 1

Hello Haydee,

An easy way to recall which is the dependent variable, versus the independent variable, is by asking yourself, which variable "depends" on the manipulation of other variables?

In this case, the variable that is manipulated - it appears to me - is the "legalization of marijuana." Therefore, the crime rates are dependent upon that legalization. Therefore, the answer is crime rates.

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