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In experiments, you manipulate independent variables directly to see how they affect your dependent variable. A dependent variable is the variable that changes as a result of the independent variable manipulation. Here are the definitions for independent and dependent variables, examples of each variable, and the explanation for how to graph them. Non-manipulation quantitative designs. A confounding variable, also called a confounder or confounding factor, is a third variable in a study examining a potential cause-and-effect relationship. A dependent variable from one study can be the independent variable in another study, so its important to pay attention to research design. Then the crash experts rammed each car into a crash wall at the same speed. 8600 Rockville Pike Variables that represent the outcome of the experiment. You could also choose to look at the effect of exercise levels as well as diet, or even the additional effect of the two combined. For experimental data, you analyze your results by generating descriptive statistics and visualizing your findings. When video games started to become increasingly graphic, it was a huge concern in many countries in the world. Linear regression is used to quantify the relationship between 1 independent (predictor) variables and a continuous dependent (outcome) variable. Whats the definition of a dependent variable? Dependent and Independent variables Example of Denominator In p = 4q, p is the dependent variable, because its value depends on the value of q. (2022, December 02). All articles are edited by a PhD level academic. A well-known fast-food corporation wants to know if the color of the interior of their restaurants will affect how fast people eat. Clipboard, Search History, and several other advanced features are temporarily unavailable. When running a study or analyzing statistics, researchers try to remove or account for as many of the confounding variables as possible in their study design or analysis. A variable that is made by combining multiple variables in an experiment. Categorical variables are any variables where the data represent groups. In z = 3x2 - 2y3, z is the dependent variable. Retrieved March 2, 2023, You suspect the amount of television a person watches is related to their age. In a well-designed experimental study, the independent variable is the only important difference between the experimental (e.g., treatment) and control (e.g., placebo) groups. What is the difference between discrete and continuous variables? Based on your results, you note that the placebo and low-dose groups show little difference in blood pressure, while the high-dose group sees substantial improvements. A chemicals company has developed three different versions of their concrete mix. How should we measure stress? In addition to being bad for the environment, car exhaust may cause damage to the brain and impair cognitive performance. 2. ThoughtCo, Aug. 27, 2020, thoughtco.com/independent-and-dependent-variable-examples-606828. The researchers identified 120 patients with relatively similar types of cancerous tumors in both size and stage of progression. Groups with no rank or order between them. The independent variable is the supplement, and the dependent variable is muscle mass. The dependent variable is the variable that is being measured or tested in an experiment. Nominal, Categorical, Dichotomous, Binary. One way to examine this possibility would be to conduct an animal study. The independent variable is the level of crust crunchiness, and the dependent variable is how much it was liked. Reviewers ensure all content reflects expert academic consensus and is backed up with reference to academic studies. Instead, you can create a research design where you compare the outcomes of groups of participants with characteristics. Causation: Two variables are causally related if changes in the value of one cause the other to change.. 6 Probabilistic causation means that the relationship between the independent variable and the dependent variable (X and Y) are such that X increases the probability of Y when all else is equal. Example one: How long you use your phone before bed affects your quality of sleep. FOIA By contrast, the independent variable is the potential answer as to what is causing the change in the dependent variable. By varying the level of the independent variable and observing associated changes in the dependent variable, a researcher can conclude whether the independent variable affects the dependent variable or not. A confounding variable, or confounder, affects the relationship between the independent and dependent variables. ThoughtCo. Brain morphology, harm avoidance, and the severity of excessive internet use. SPICE (Setting, Perspective, Intervention/phenomenon of Interest, Comparison, Evaluation) Appropriate for : evaluating the outcomes of a service, project, or intervention The amount of skull damage of dummies in cars with airbags was then compared with those without airbags. In these experimental studies, the independent variable was graphic video games, and the dependent variable was observed level of aggression. In this issue of Anesthesia & Analgesia, Mller-Wirtz et al 1 report results of a study in which they used linear regression to assess the relationship in a rat model between tissue propofol . The research participants are randomly assigned to either receive the independent variable (called the treatment condition), or not receive the independent variable (called the control condition). An official website of the United States government. In other words, whether changes in an independent variable cause a change in a dependent variable. You want to determine whether a chemical is essential for rat nutrition, so you design an experiment. The research would look something like this: laboratory rats would be raised in three different rooms that varied in the degree of car exhaust circulating in the room: no exhaust, little exhaust, or a lot of exhaust. https://helpfulprofessor.com/independent-and-dependent-variable-examples/. Measurements of continuous or non-finite values. A variable that hides the true effect of another variable in your experiment. The temperature and light in the room the plants are kept in, and the volume of water given to each plant. 4. People who exercise regularly sleep better at night. If you want to know whether caffeine affects your appetite, the presence/absence of a given amount of caffeine would be the independent variable. You vary the room temperature by making it cooler for half the participants, and warmer for the other half. What is the effect of intermittent fasting on blood sugar levels? In an experiment you would control these potential confounders by holding them constant. Each of these is a separate independent 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). The dependent variable is the volume of liquid absorbed by the paper towel. It is the variable you control. Retrieved March 3, 2023, Identifying independent vs. dependent variables, Independent and dependent variables in research, Visualizing independent and dependent variables, Frequently asked questions about independent and dependent variables. For example, economists may want to find out what . from https://www.scribbr.com/methodology/types-of-variables/, Types of Variables in Research & Statistics | Examples, , the terms dependent and independent dont apply, because you are not trying to establish a cause and effect relationship (. The researchers then compare the scores of the exams between the two groups of classrooms. For example: In a study of how different doses of a drug affect the severity of symptoms, a researcher could compare the frequency and intensity of symptoms when different doses are administered. National Library of Medicine Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "What Are Independent and Dependent Variables?" Design approaches to experimental mediation. Is the variable manipulated, controlled, or used as a subject grouping method by the researcher? 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. An independent variable is the variable you manipulate, control, or vary in an experimental study to explore its effects. Of course, they would prefer that consumers enter and exit quickly to increase sales volume and profit. This article was peer-reviewed and edited by Chris Drew (PhD). In research, variables are any characteristics that can take on different values, such as height, age, temperature, or test scores. 2018 Jan;9(1):12-21. doi: 10.1037/per0000254. An operational definition describes exactly what the independent variable is and how it is measured. Operational variables (or operationalizing definitions) refer to how you will define and measure a specific variable as it is used in your study. You want to compare brands of paper towels, to see which holds the most liquid. 3. Definition and examples of dependent variable Independent variables are the ones we can freely manipulate, by plugging in any input value. But before we begin, we need to briefly review the difference between independent and dependent variables. The relationship makes sense and identifies the independent variable as phone use and the dependent variable as sleep quality. If you write out the variables in a sentence that shows cause and effect, the independent variable causes the effect on the dependent variable. Choosing a health behaviour theory or model for related research projects: a narrative review. coin flips). Doing this helps ensure that the experiments know exactly what they are looking at or manipulating, allowing them to measure it and determine if it is the IV that is causing changes in the DV. We could measure blood pressure, or the amount of the stress hormone cortisol in their blood, or by using a paper and pencil measure such as a questionnaire that asks them how much stress they feel. https://doi.org/10.1080/08854726.2014.959374, Manocha, R., Black, D., Sarris, J., & Stough, C.(2011). Other variations of an experiment might include having multiple levels of the independent variable. Dependent and independent variables. Examples of Independent and Dependent Variables in Experiments In this study, the independent variable is meditation and the dependent variable is the amount of stress (however it is measured). For example, in Darley . Here, the amount of chemical would be the independent variable and the rat health would be the dependent variable. Distinguishing between independent and dependent variables can be tricky when designing a complex study or reading an academic research paper. A randomized, controlled trial of meditation for work stress, anxiety and depressed mood in full-time workers. External Validity in Research, Forming a Good Hypothesis for Scientific Research, Scientific Method Steps in Psychology Research, Psychology Research Jargon You Should Know, The Definition of Random Assignment According to Psychology, How the Experimental Method Works in Psychology, How Social Psychologists Conduct Their Research, Experimental Group in Psychology Experiments, Types of Variables in Psychology Research, How to Write an APA Method Section of a Research Paper, Wait List Control Groups in Psychology Experiments, Daily Tips for a Healthy Mind to Your Inbox, Types of variables, descriptive statistics, and sample size. Its what youre interested in measuring, and it depends on your independent variable. confounds; dependent variable; independent variable; levels of measurement; mediation; moderation; risk factors. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the Plausible alternative explanations are other factors that may cause the dependent variable under observation.[4]. Data is generally divided into two categories: A variable that contains quantitative data is a quantitative variable; a variable that contains categorical data is a categorical variable. Your email address will not be published. 2023 Simply Psychology - Study Guides for Psychology Students. Independent variables are the variables that the experimenter changes to test their dependent variable. The health of the rat (whether it lives and can reproduce) is the dependent variable. People learn more when they study in a quiet versus noisy place. I.V._____________________________________________________________, D.V. Please enable it to take advantage of the complete set of features! Subscribe now and start your journey towards a happier, healthier you. To gather information about plant responses over time, you can fill out the same data sheet every few days until the end of the experiment. There are two main types of independent variables. . Their R&D food scientists have developed a protein supplement that is designed to help build muscle mass for people that work out regularly. The researchers identified 120 patients with relatively similar types of cancerous tumors in both size and stage of progression. The researchers record how much time elapses from the moment they enter the room to the moment they leave. Scribbr. Revised on December 5, 2022. A company that specializes in essential oils wants to examine the effects of lavender on sleep quality. In an experiment, you manipulate the independent variable and measure the outcome in the dependent variable. You use this measurement data to check whether and to what extent your independent variable influences the dependent variable by conducting statistical analyses. Sometimes the dependent variable is called the "responding variable.". Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a29bcd96f01c31d Does this variable get measured only after other variables are altered? Seekprofessional input on your specific circumstances. Ferguson, C. J. . For example, gender identity, ethnicity, race, income, and education are all important subject variables that social researchers treat as independent variables. Lack of sleep significantly affects learning in 10-year-old boys. Next, they randomly select university males to enter their testing facilities. How many minutes or hours of television a person watches is the dependent variable. You plot bars for each treatment group before and after the treatment to show the difference in blood pressure. They then indicate how much they liked it by pressing one of 5 buttons: didnt like at all, liked, somewhat liked, liked very much, loved it. You will probably also have variables that you hold constant (control variables) in order to focus on your experimental treatment. Does practicing meditation reduce stress? This site needs JavaScript to work properly. Can graphic video games be a force for good? Here, the amount of chemical is the independent variable and the rat health is the dependent variable. But there are many other ways of describing variables that help with interpreting your results. Quantitative variables are any variables where the data represent amounts (e.g. In an experiment, one group of workers performs a task in a yellow room while another performs the same task in a blue room. Dr. Drew has published over 20 academic articles in scholarly journals. Here are the definitions for independent and dependent variables, examples of each variable, and the explanation for how to graph them. Then, you select an appropriate statistical test to test your hypothesis. The amount of input the workers have over their work is the independent variable in this example. The conditions of each room are all exactly the same, except that half of the rooms have lavender released into the rooms and half do not. Keywords: Two other kinds of variables that might influence the outcome include: Extraneous variables can also include demand characteristics (which are clues about how the participants should respond) and experimenter effects (which is when the researchers accidentally provide clues about how a participant will respond). The term causation is vitally important. Sometimes varying the independent variables will result in changes in the dependent variables. National Library of Medicine The number of popped kernels is the dependent variable. Educators are interested in whether participating in after-school math tutoring can increase scores on standardized math exams. It is sometimes called the 'predictor' or 'treatment' variable. February 3, 2022 8600 Rockville Pike It's the outcome you're interested in measuring, and it 'depends' on your independent variable. For example, scientists can learn if graphic video games make people more aggressive, if mediation reduces stress, if Gatorade improves athletic performance, and even if certain medical treatments can cure cancer. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.