Indicate whether the following quantitative observations are discrete or continuous.

1. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of Chicago was 2,695,598 persons.

a. Discrete

b. Continuous

2. The driving distance from Fairbanks, Alaska, to Scotland, Texas, is 3760.43 miles.

a. Discrete

b. Continuous

3. On March 19, 2016, Joey Chestnut won a boysenberry pie eating contest by consuming14.5 pounds of pie in 8 minutes.

a. Discrete

b. Continuous

Identify the independent variable in these experiments.

4. Eugenia Costa-Giomi (2004) carried out a study designed to investigate the effects of piano instruction on children’s school performance. Fourth-grade children in Montreal were assigned to either an experimental group or to a control group. Children in the experimental group received three years of free piano instruction. Children in the control group received no formal music instruction. The independent variable is ___.

a. School performance

b. Group assignment (piano instruction or no formal music instruction)

5. Marian Banks (2002) investigated the effects of animal-assisted therapy (AAT) on loneliness among the elderly. The participants were assigned to one of three treatment conditions: No AAT, AAT once per week, or AAT three times per week. The results indicated that, compared to no AAT, loneliness was significantly lower among the participants who received AAT once or three times per week. The independent variable is ___.

a. AAT treatment condition (0, 1, or 3 times per week)

b. Loneliness