What does a negative value of q tell us about the temperature change of a sample of water? And is this process endothermic or exothermic? Heat is being released by the water so the temperature of the water is decreasing. The process is endothermic. Heat is being absorbed by the water so the temperature of the water is increasing. The process is endothermic. Heat is being released by the water so the temperature of the water is decreasing. The process is exothermic. Heat is being absorbed by the water so the temperature of the water is increasing. The process is exothermic.