What are independent and dependent variables?

Independent variables are those that researchers manipulate or change in an experiment to observe their effects on other variables, which are referred to as dependent variables. The dependent variables are the outcomes or responses that are measured to determine if they are affected by changes in the independent variables.

Understanding this distinction is crucial in research design, as it allows researchers to establish cause-and-effect relationships. For example, if a researcher is studying the effect of study time on exam scores, the amount of study time would be the independent variable that the researcher controls, while the exam scores would be the dependent variable that is measured to see if there is an impact.

This choice emphasizes the fundamental relationship between these two types of variables, which is essential for conducting controlled experiments and analyzing data effectively.