Independent Variable Definition and Examples
- Independent Variable Definition. An independent variable is defines as the variable that is changed or controlled in a scientific experiment.
- Independent Variable Examples. ...
- Graphing the Independent Variable. ...
- Practice Identifying the Independent Variable. ...
- Sources. ...
How to determine independent variable?
The type of test is determined by:
- your variable types
- level of measurement
- number of independent variable levels.
What does the word dependent variable mean in science?
Quite simply, the independent variable is the state, condition or experimental element that is controlled and manipulated by the experimenter. The dependent variable is what an experimenter is attempting to test, learn about or measure, and will be “dependent” on the independent variable.
How to identify the dependent variable?
How to Identify Independent & Dependent Variables Given an Equation
- Steps for Identifying Independent and Dependent Variables Given an Equation. ...
- Equations and Definitions for Identifying Independent and Dependent Variables. ...
- Example Problem 1 - Identifying Independent and Dependent Variables. ...
- Example Problem 2 - Identifying Independent and Dependent Variables. ...
How do you determine independent and dependent variables?
What are the 8 characteristics of qualitative research?
- Natural setting. Qualitative researchers often collect data in the field at the site where participants experience the issues or problem under study.
- Researcher as key instrument.
- Multiple methods.
- Complex reasoning.
- Participants’ meanings.
- Emergent design.
- Reflexivity.
- Holistic account.
What are independent and dependent variables in science?
Researchers often manipulate or measure independent and dependent variables in studies to test cause-and-effect relationships. The independent variable is the cause. Its value is independent of other variables in your study. The dependent variable is the effect. Its value depends on changes in the independent variable.
What is the Dependant variable in science?
A dependent variable is the variable that changes as a result of the independent variable manipulation. It's the outcome you're interested in measuring, and it 'depends' on your independent variable. In statistics, dependent variables are also called: Response variables (they respond to a change in another variable)
Where is the independent variable in science?
An independent variable is defines as the variable that is changed or controlled in a scientific experiment. It represents the cause or reason for an outcome. Independent variables are the variables that the experimenter changes to test their dependent variable.
What is a Dependant variable example?
The dependent variable is the variable that is being measured or tested in an experiment. 1 For example, in a study looking at how tutoring impacts test scores, the dependent variable would be the participants' test scores, since that is what is being measured.
What is the difference between independent and dependent?
Independent vs Dependent Variables 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.
What are some examples of independent and dependent variables?
Independent variable causes an effect on the dependent variable. Example: How long you sleep (independent variable) affects your test score (dependent variable). This makes sense, but: Example: Your test score affects how long you sleep.
How do you remember 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.
How do you identify independent dependent and control 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’s the difference between method and methodology?
Methodology refers to the overarching strategy and rationale of your research project . It involves studying the methods used in your field and...
What’s the difference between quantitative and qualitative methods?
Quantitative research deals with numbers and statistics, while qualitative research deals with words and meanings. Quantitative methods allow yo...
What is sampling?
A sample is a subset of individuals from a larger population . Sampling means selecting the group that you will actually collect data from in...
What’s the difference between reliability and validity?
Reliability and validity are both about how well a method measures something: Reliability refers to the consistency of a measure (whether the r...
What is the difference between internal and external validity?
I nternal validity is the degree of confidence that the causal relationship you are testing is not influenced by other factors or variables . Ext...
What is experimental design?
Experimental design means planning a set of procedures to investigate a relationship between variables . To design a controlled experiment, you ne...
What are independent and dependent variables?
You can think of independent and dependent variables in terms of cause and effect: an independent variable is the variable you think is the ca...
What is the difference between quantitative and categorical variables?
Quantitative variables are any variables where the data represent amounts (e.g. height, weight, or age). Categorical variables are any variables...
What is the difference between discrete and continuous variables?
Discrete and continuous variables are two types of quantitative variables : Discrete variables represent counts (e.g. the number of objects in a...
What Are Variables?
In experiments, variables are factors that can change or can be changed. Variables can be manipulated, measured, or controlled for.
Independent and Dependent Variables
Independent and dependent variables are the two main types of variables found in experiments. The names of each variable provide helpful clues regarding their respective roles.
How Can You Identify Independent Variables?
It can take some practice to feel confident in identifying independent and dependent variables. These tips should help you as you practice.
Can You Have More than One Independent Variable?
Yes. But having more than one independent variable does make an experiment more complex. If you’re just here to work on a science fair project, I would suggest keeping your independent variable amount limited to one.
Are There Other Types of Variables?
There are! And they can influence the validity of an experiment, so it’s important to recognize them.
Do You Want More Practice?
If you’d like a little more practice, read through this study on depression treatments, these classic (and disturbing) psychology experiments, and these studies on education-related issues.
What is the difference between independent and dependent variables?
As mentioned above, independent and dependent variables are the two key components of an experiment. Quite simply, the independent variable is the state, condition or experimental element that is controlled and manipulated by the experimenter. The dependent variable is what an experimenter is attempting to test, learn about or measure, ...
What is dependent variable?
The dependent variable is what an experimenter is attempting to test, learn about or measure, and will be “dependent” on the independent variable. Inside the algebra class (Photo Credit : adriaticfoto/Shutterstock) This is similar to the mathematical concept of variables, in that an independent variable is a known quantity, ...
What is the history of variables?
The History of Variables. Independent Variables. A Final Word. An independent variable is one of the two types of variables used in a scientific experiment. The independent variable is the variable that can be controlled and changed; the dependent variable is directly affected by the change in the independent variable.
Why are variables important in science?
Variables have proven to be invaluable for the calculation and theorization of complex ideas and computations across a multitude of fields. but in the realm of scientific experiments, variables take on a slightly different (and simpler) role.
What does it mean when weather is variable?
The weather can be “variable”, meaning that it changes quite often, and the same can be said of personalities and moods. By introducing a new “variable” into a situation, such as inviting your new in-laws over for Christmas, you are expecting the outcome to be different than if they were not in attendance.
Where did the variable come from?
In the human history of logic and reasoning, there have been many critical turning points, but one of the most fundamental concepts—the variable—has its origins in 7th century India, specifically with a mathematician named Brahmagupta.
Is an independent variable a dependent variable?
This is similar to the mathematical concept of variables, in that an independent variable is a known quantity, and a dependent variable is an unknown quantity. In most scientific experiments, there should only be a single independent variable, as you are attempting to measure the change of other variables in relation to ...
How to tell if a variable is independent or dependent?
You can think of independent and dependent variables in terms of cause and effect: an independent variable is the variable you think is the cause, while a dependent variable is the effect. In an experiment, you manipulate the independent variable and measure the outcome in the dependent variable. For example, in an experiment about the effect ...
What are dependent variables?
Dependent variables are also known by these terms: Response variables (they respond to a change in another variable) Outcome variables (they represent the outcome you want to measure) Left-hand-side variables (they appear on the left-hand side of a regression equation)
What are the variables in a cause and effect relationship?
The variables in a study of a cause-and-effect relationship are called the independent and dependent variables. The independent variable is the cause. Its value is independent of other variables in your study. The dependent variable is the effect. Its value depends on changes in the independent variable.
How many levels of a drug can you apply to determine if the independent variable has an effect?
You can apply just two levels (e.g. the new medication and the placebo) in order to find out if the independent variable has an effect at all. You can also apply multiple levels (e.g. three different doses of the new medication) to find out how the independent variable affects the dependent variable.
What are variables in research?
In research, variables are any characteristics that can take on different values, such as height, age, species, or exam score . In scientific research, we often want to study the effect of one variable on another one. For example, you might want to test whether students who spend more time studying get better exam scores.
Can researchers manipulate the independent variable?
Outside of an experimental setting, researchers often cannot directly manipulate or change the independent variable that they’re interested in. Instead, they must find already-existing examples of the independent variable, and investigate how changes in this variable affect the dependent variable.
Can you change one independent variable at a time?
Each of these is a separate independent variable. To ensure the internal validity of an experiment , you should only change one independent variable at a time.
The History of Variables
Independent Variables
- As mentioned above, independent and dependent variables are the two key components of an experiment. Quite simply, theindependent variable is the state, condition or experimental element that is controlled and manipulated by the experimenter. The dependent variableis what an experimenter is attempting to test, learn about or measure, and will be “d...
A Final Word
- This may seem like a simple concept, but it underpins all scientific inquiry, so it’s very important to understand. It is also applicable in your own life every single day. For example, if you’re a scientifically minded person and are unhappy with the direction your life is going, try to change one thing in a concentrated way (i.e., getting a new job, finding/leaving a partner, changing a dail…
Suggested Reading
- Fermat’s Enigma: The Epic Quest to Solve the World’s Greatest Mathematical Problem Check on Amazon
- How to Solve It: A New Aspect of Mathematical Method (Princeton Science Library, 85) Check on Amazon
- Math Without Numbers Check on Amazon