Independent vs Dependent Variable
- There can be many variables in an experiment, but the two key variables that are always present are the independent and dependent variable.
- The independent variable is the one that the researcher intentionally changes or controls.
- The dependent variable is the factor that the research measures. It changes in response to the independent variable or depends upon it.
How to determine which variables are dependent or independent?
Method 3 Method 3 of 3: Graphing Independent and Dependent Variables
- Create a graph with x and y-axes. Draw a vertical line, which is the y-axis. ...
- Label the x-axis with units to measure your independent variable. Next, make dashes in even increments along the horizontal line.
- Draw dashes along the y-axis to measure the dependent variable. ...
- Enter your variables' coordinates onto the graph. ...
What is the difference between an independent variable and a dependent variable?
KEY DIFFERENCES:
- An Independent variable is a variable whose value never depends on another variable whereas a dependent variable is a variable whose value depends on another variable.
- The Independent variable is the presumed cause. ...
- Independent variables are the predictors or regressors but dependent variables are often referred as the predicted variable.
What is an example of independent variable in research?
The following are illustrative examples of independent variables. Changing the amount of fertilizer given to plants as an independent variable. In this experiment, dependent variables might be plant height and weight. Control variables might include water, sunlight and soil. Giving medication to one group and a placebo to another.
What are some examples of independent and dependent variables?
independent variable - the variable that the research changes (for example, the weight-control medication that a certain research group gets) dependent variable - the variable that the researcher is testing and measuring in relation to the independent variable (for example, how much weight the research group actually loses)
What is independent and dependent variable in research example?
Let's take the example of “Test Scores”. You want to see the effect of studying or sleeping on a test score. In the example, “test score” is the dependent variable. “Studying” or “sleeping” is the independent variable because these factors impact how much a student scores on the test.
What are independent variables in research?
Question: What's an independent variable? Answer: An independent variable is exactly what it sounds like. It is a variable that stands alone and isn't changed by the other variables you are trying to measure. For example, someone's age might be an independent variable.
How do you find the independent and dependent variables?
An easy way to think of independent and dependent variables is, when you're conducting an experiment, the independent variable is what you change, and the dependent variable is what changes because of that. You can also think of the independent variable as the cause and the dependent variable as the effect.
What is independent and dependent variable in quantitative research?
Quantitative design methods The independent variable is the variable that is being manipulated, or the one that varies. It is sometimes called the 'predictor' or 'treatment' variable. The dependent variable is the outcome (or response) variable.
What are the 3 types of variables in research?
An experiment usually has three kinds of variables: independent, dependent, and controlled.
What are examples of variables in a research study?
It could be demographic, physical or social and include religion, income, occupation, temperature, humidity, language, food, fashion, etc. Some variables can be quite concrete and clear, such as gender, birth order, types of blood group etc while others can be considerably more abstract and vague.
How do you identify variables in a research study?
Variables are found in the hypothesis or research question. In a hypothesis, you can see how variables operate in a research study. To identify Independent research variables, look for items in your research question or hypothesis that manipulates, causes or influences something or a reaction.
What is dependent variable in research example?
The dependent variable is the variable being tested and measured in an experiment, and is 'dependent' on the independent variable. An example of a dependent variable is depression symptoms, which depends on the independent variable (type of therapy).
What is the difference between independent and dependent and controlled variables?
The independent variable is graphed on the x-axis. The dependent variable, which changes in response to the independent variable, is graphed on the y-axis. Controlled variables are usually not graphed because they should not change.
What are the 5 types of variables in research?
These types are briefly outlined in this section.Categorical variables. A categorical variable (also called qualitative variable) refers to a characteristic that can't be quantifiable. ... Nominal variables. ... Ordinal variables. ... Numeric variables. ... Continuous variables. ... Discrete variables.
Is there independent and dependent variables in qualitative research?
Answer and Explanation: A qualitative study does not have any measurement variable. There are neither dependent nor independent variables.
Which of the two is dependent variable?
In an experiment, the independent variable is manipulated and the effects observed. These observed effects are called dependent variables.
What are the 4 variable types?
You can see that one way to look at variables is to divide them into four different categories ( nominal, ordinal, interval and ratio). These refer to the levels of measure associated with the variables.
What is a dependent variable simple?
A dependent variable is a variable whose value depends upon independent variable s. The dependent variable is what is being measured in an experiment or evaluated in a mathematical equation. The dependent variable is sometimes called "the outcome variable."
What are the 5 types of variables in research?
These types are briefly outlined in this section.Categorical variables. A categorical variable (also called qualitative variable) refers to a characteristic that can't be quantifiable. ... Nominal variables. ... Ordinal variables. ... Numeric variables. ... Continuous variables. ... Discrete variables.
What is the difference between independent and dependent and controlled variables?
The independent variable is graphed on the x-axis. The dependent variable, which changes in response to the independent variable, is graphed on the y-axis. Controlled variables are usually not graphed because they should not change.
What is the role of independent and dependent variables in research?
Independent and dependent variables in research studies often play a crucial role in determining the results of a study. When working as a researcher, it's important to understand the difference between the two and how they interact with each other. Independent and dependent variables exist in research across all fields of study, making it a key concept for any researcher to learn. In this article, we discuss what variables are in a research study, what makes a dependent or independent variable and provide examples of both independent and dependent variables in several fields of study.
What is a dependent variable?
A dependent variable is one that changes because of changes to another variable in the research study. The results or values of the variable depend on the results or values of a different variable. For example, because water levels can affect plant growth, growth rates are a dependent variable in relation to rainfall levels.
What are variables in research studies?
A variable in a research study is something or someone you are trying to measure. Variable data can change during a study, allowing for assessment of the conditions leading to the change or the results. A variable in a research study may be dependent or independent, with both serving an important purpose in a study because both can affect the study's result.
What does it mean when a variable changes?
Ask if the variable changes: If the value of a variable changes anytime a different variable changes, that is a sign that it is a dependent variable because its value relies upon changes to another variable .
Why is the rate of growth a dependent variable?
The rate of growth is a dependent variable because it changes based on the type of soil the seed grows in which allows the scientists to determine the ideal concentration of soil nutrients.
How does a scientist study soil?
A scientist researching the effect of a particular element in soil on the plants growing in it may conduct a study in a controlled setting by planting the same seeds in soil mixtures with different nutrient levels. The scientist then tracks growth in each of the experimental compositions to determine the ideal levels.
Why is car usage an independent variable?
Car usage is the independent variable because air quality doesn't affect the number of cars on the road.
What is dependent variable in social science?
Don't feel bad if you are confused about what is the dependent variable and what is the independent variable in social and behavioral sciences research. However, it's important that you learn the difference because framing a study using these variables is a common approach to organizing the elements of a social sciences research study in order to discover relevant and meaningful results. Specifically, it is important for these two reasons: 1 You need to understand and be able to evaluate their application in other people's research. 2 You need to apply them correctly in your own research.
What is a variable in research?
A variable in research simply refers to a person, place, thing, or phenomenon that you are trying to measure in some way. The best way to understand the difference between a dependent and independent variable is that the meaning of each is implied by what the words tell us about the variable you are using.
Why is it important to describe the variables in a research paper?
The structure and writing style of describing the variables and their application to analyzing the research problem should be stated and unpacked in such a way that the reader obtains a clear understanding of the relationships between the variables and why they are important. This is also important so that the study can be replicated in the future using the same variables but applied in a different way.
Why is it important to learn the difference between framing and using variables?
However, it's important that you learn the difference because framing a study using these variables is a common approach to organizing the elements of a social sciences research study in order to discover relevant and meaningful results.
Where should variables be outlined in a paper?
The variables should be outlined in the introduction of your paper and explained in more detail in the methods section. There are no rules about the structure and style for writing about independent or dependent variables but, as with any academic writing, clarity and being succinct is most important.
What is the process of examining a research problem in the social and behavioral sciences?
The process of examining a research problem in the social and behavioral sciences is often framed around methods of analysis that compare, contrast, correlate, average, or integrate relationships between or among variables. Techniques include associations, sampling, random selection, and blind selection. Designation of the dependent and independent variable involves unpacking the research problem in a way that identifies a general cause and effect and classifying these variables as either independent or dependent.
What is the difference between independent and dependent variables?
If you are having a hard time identifying which variable is the independent variable and which is the dependent variable , remember the dependent variable is the one affected by a change in the independent variable. If you write out the variables in a sentence that shows cause and effect, the independent variable causes the effect on the dependent variable. If you have the variables in the wrong order, the sentence won't make sense.
What is dependent variable?
The dependent variable is the condition that you measure in an experiment. You are assessing how it responds to a change in the independent variable, so you can think of it as depending on the independent variable. Sometimes the dependent variable is called the "responding variable."
What happens when you write out variables in a sentence?
If you write out the variables in a sentence that shows cause and effect, the independent variable causes the effect on the dependent variable. If you have the variables in the wrong order, the sentence won't make sense. Independent variable causes an effect on the dependent variable. Example: How long you sleep (independent variable) ...
What is the difference between the x and y axis of a graph?
There is a standard method for graphing the independent and dependent variable. The x-axis is the independent variable, while the y-axis is the dependent variable. You can use the DRY MIX acronym to help remember how to graph variables: Test your understanding with the scientific method quiz .
What causes an effect on the dependent variable?
Independent variable causes an effect on the dependent variable.
Why is the variable independent?
It is called independent because its value does not depend on and is not affected by the state of any other variable in the experiment. Sometimes you may hear this variable called the "controlled variable" because it is the one that is changed. Do not confuse it with a "control variable," which is a variable ...
Is the presence or absence of a chemical an independent variable?
The presence/absence of the chemical is the independent variable. The health of the rat (whether it lives and can reproduce) is the dependent variable. If you determine the substance is necessary for proper nutrition, a follow-up experiment might determine how much of the chemical is needed. Here, the amount of chemical would be ...
What are the two types of variables in health research?
In analytical health research there are generally two types of variables. Independent variables are what we expect will influence dependent variables. A Dependent variable is what happens as a result of the independent variable.
What is a confounding variable?
A confounding variable, or confounder, affects the relationship between the independent and dependent variables. A confounding variable in the example of car exhaust and asthma would be differential exposure to other factors that increase respiratory issues, like cigarette smoke or particulates from factories.
What is systematic error in study design, subject recruitment, data collection, or analysis that results in a mistaken estimate?
Bias is a systematic error in study design, subject recruitment, data collection, or analysis that results in a mistaken estimate of the true population parameter. [2] Although there are many types of bias, two common types are selection bias and information bias.
How are independent and dependent variables viewed?
The independent and dependent variables may be viewed in terms of cause and effect. If the independent variable is changed, then an effect is seen in the dependent variable. Remember, the values of both variables may change in an experiment and are recorded.
What is dependent variable?
A dependent variable is the variable being tested and measured in a scientific experiment . The dependent variable is 'dependent' on the independent variable. As the experimenter changes the independent variable, the effect on the dependent variable is observed and recorded.
What are the two main variables in an experiment?
The two main variables in an experiment are the independent and dependent variable . An independent variable is the variable that is changed or controlled in a scientific experiment to test the effects on the dependent variable . A dependent variable is the variable being tested and measured in a scientific experiment .
How are two variables related?
The two variables may be related by cause and effect. If the independent variable changes, then the dependent variable is affected.
When are independent variables used in graphs?
When results are plotted in graph s, the convention is to use the independent variable as the x-axis and the dependent variable as the y-axis. The DRY MIX acronym can help keep the variables straight:
Is the brightness of the light a dependent variable?
The brightness of the light is controlled by the scientist. This would be the independent variable. How the moth reacts to the different light levels (distance to light source) would be the dependent variable.
What is the difference between independent and dependent variables?
The independent variable is the factor the researcher controls, while the dependent variable is the one that is measured. The independent and dependent variables are key to any scientific experiment, but how do you tell them apart? Here are the definitions of independent and dependent variables, examples of each type, ...
What is the dependent variable in an experiment?
The dependent variable is the factor that changes in response to the independent variable. It is the variable that you measure in an experiment. The dependent variable may be called the “responding variable.”.
Why is the independent variable called the controlled variable?
The independent variable may be called the “controlled variable” because it is the one that is changed or controlled. This is different from the “ control variable ,” which is variable that is held constant so it won’t influence the outcome of the experiment.
What is an example of if-then statements?
If-then statements also work: Example: If you change the color of light (independent variable), then it affects plant growth (dependent variable). Switching the variables makes no sense: Example: If plant growth rate changes, then it affects the color of light.
Is the brand of popcorn a dependent variable?
The brand of popcorn is the independent variable. The number of popped kern els is the dependent variable. Of course, you could also measure the number of unpopped kernels instead. You want to determine whether a chemical is essential for rat nutrition, so you design an experiment. The presence/absence of the chemical is the independent variable. ...
Is the presence or absence of a chemical the independent variable?
The presence/absence of the chemical is the independent variable. The health of the rat (whether it lives and reproduces) is the dependent variable. A follow-up experiment might determine how much of the chemical is needed. Here, the amount of chemical is the independent variable and the rat health is the dependent variable.
Is water temperature an independent variable?
The water temperature is the independent variable. The mass of algae is the dependent variable. In an experiment to determine how far people can see into the infrared part of the spectrum, the wavelength of light is the independent variable and whether the light is observed is the dependent variable. If you want to know whether caffeine affects ...
What is dependent variable?
The dependent variable is the variable being tested and measured in an experiment, and is 'dependent' on the independent variable. An example of a dependent variable is depression symptoms, which depends on the independent variable (type of therapy).
What is the name of the variable that only applies to experimental investigations?
Variables are given a special name that only applies to experimental investigations. One is called the dependent variable and the other the independent variable.
What is operationalizing variables?
Operational variables (or operationalizing definitions) refer to how you will define and measure a specific variable as it is used in your study.
What is the researcher looking for in an experiment?
In an experiment, the researcher is looking for the possible effect on the dependent variable that might be caused by changing the independent variable.
What are the IV and DV?
For the following hypotheses name the IV and the DV. 1. Lack of sleep significantly affects learning in 10-year-old boys. IV............................................................ DV........................................................... 2. Social class has a significant effect on IQ scores. ...
Is the amount of information remembered a dependent variable?
In this particular example the type of information is the independent variable (because it changes) and the amount of information remembered is the dependent variable (because this is being measured).