Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) Practice Test

What type of variable is being manipulated when a student’s chair is adjusted to reduce distractions in the classroom?

1. Dependent variable

2. Context variable

3. Independent variable

4. Extraneous variable

The correct answer is: Context variable

In this scenario, the variable being manipulated is the student's chair, which is adjusted in an effort to reduce distractions in the classroom setting. This adjustment represents a change that the researcher or teacher is intentionally making to create a more conducive learning environment. When a variable is manipulated in an experiment or intervention, it is referred to as the independent variable. The independent variable is what the experimenter changes to observe the effect it has on another variable, typically the dependent variable, which in this case could be the student's level of distraction or engagement in class. Context variables relate to the environment or setting surrounding the behavior, but they are not the specific aspects being controlled or changed for the purpose of the study. By adjusting the chair, the teacher is actively modifying the context in which learning occurs, but the chair adjustment itself is a manipulation aimed at observing its effects. In summary, the correct classification of the manipulated aspect in this situation is as an independent variable. This distinction is essential for understanding how interventions work to produce desired outcomes in educational settings.