Chapter ch01. Critical Thinking Exercise

The study design may vary, but the independent variable is the “cause” or what we are manipulating, which is yoga practice. The impact or “effect” is the dependent variable, which is self-esteem. The student’s operational definition for these variables will differ based on how they plan to conduct the study.

Since this is an experiment, there should be some mention of random selection of participants, and then there should be random assignment of the participants into the two groups: the experimental group and the control group. The experimental group should be the group receiving yoga practice, while the control group should not receive yoga practice. Students may choose to have the control group do no activity or some non-physical activity.

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The specifics for the studies may differ but the focus for these types is on change over time or age-related differences. In cross-sectional studies the data is collected at one time but for different ages. For example, this study could compare 4-, 6-, and 8-year-olds to see how they differ in terms of the impact of yoga on self-esteem.

In contrast, a longitudinal study would follow a single group over a period of time. For example, following a group of 4-year-olds who practice yoga for four years, measuring their self-esteem at age 4, 6, and 8. These developmental studies allow us to look at age-related differences, as well as how the impact of a variable may change over time.