The independent variable is the variable the experimenter manipulates or changes, and is assumed to have a direct effect on the dependent variable. For example, allocating participants to either drug or placebo conditions (independent variable) in order to measure any changes in the intensity of their anxiety (dependent variable).
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What is an independent variable in research?
Dependent and Independent Variables. 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. For example, if we want to explore whether high concentrations of vehicle exhaust impact incidence of asthma in …
What is the independent variable in a blood pressure study?
This article begins by defining the term variable and the terms independent variable and dependent variable, providing examples of each. It then proceeds to describe and discuss …
What is the operational definition of an independent variable?
The “ variables ” are any factor, trait, or condition that can be changed in the experiment and that can have an effect on the outcome of the experiment. An experiment can have three kinds of …
What happens to the independent variable in a control group?
· The treatment is any independent variable manipulated by the experimenters, and its exact form depends on the type of research being performed. In a medical trial, it might be …
What are independent variable treatments?
In an experiment, the factor (also called an independent variable) is an explanatory variable manipulated by the experimenter. Each factor has two or more levels, i.e., different values of the factor. Combinations of factor levels are called treatments.
Is the independent variable the treatment variable?
the independent variable, whose effect on a dependent variable is studied in a research project.
What are independent variables in healthcare?
Definitions. In an experiment, the independent variable is the variable that is varied or manipulated by the researcher. The dependent variable is the response that is measured.
What type of variable is treatment?
Parts of the experiment: Independent vs dependent variablesType of variableDefinitionIndependent variables (aka treatment variables)Variables you manipulate in order to affect the outcome of an experiment.Dependent variables (aka response variables)Variables that represent the outcome of the experiment.1 more row•Nov 21, 2019
What are the types of independent variables?
The two main types are: Quantitative Predictors, which have a numerical value (i.e. 5.5,800,2K) for categories like age, height, test scores or weight. Qualitative Predictors, which do not have numerical values. Used for categories like gender, socioeconomic status, political affiliation or geographic location.
Which is the 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.
Is medicine a dependent variable?
When a researcher gives an active medication to one group of people and a placebo, or inactive medication, to another group of people, the independent variable is the medication treatment. Each person's response to the active medication or placebo is called the dependent variable.
Is pain an independent variable?
Planning Analysis The change in pain level is the dependent variable; it depends on the treatment.
What is independent variable in research example?
Example: Independent and dependent variables You design a study to test whether changes in room temperature have an effect on math test scores. Your independent variable is the temperature of the room. You vary the room temperature by making it cooler for half the participants, and warmer for the other half.
How do you choose an independent variable?
The easiest way to identify which variable in your experiment is the Independent Variable (IV) and which one is the Dependent Variable (DV) is by putting both the variables in the sentence below in a way that makes sense. “The IV causes a change in the DV. It is not possible that DV could cause any change in IV.”
What is treatment in research?
The treatment is any independent variable manipulated by the experimenters, and its exact form depends on the type of research being performed. In a medical trial, it might be a new drug or therapy. In public policy studies, it could be a new social policy that some receive and not others.
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.
What is an independent variable?
Independent variables are the variables that the experimenter changes to test their dependent variable. A change in the independent variable directly causes a change in the dependent variable. The effect on the dependent variable is measured and recorded. Common Misspellings: independant variable.
What is the variable that responds to the change in the independent variable?
The variable that responds to the change in the independent variable is called the dependent variable. It depends on the independent variable. The independent variable is graphed on the x-axis.
What is the independent variable of a moth reaction?
The independent variable is the amount of light and the moth's reaction is the dependent variable . In a study to determine the effect of temperature on plant pigmentation, the independent variable (cause) is the temperature, while the amount of pigment or color is the dependent variable (the effect).
Can the dependent variable remain unchanged?
The difficulty is that the value of both of these variables can change. It's even possible for the dependent variable to remain unchanged in response to controlling the independent variable.
What is the difference between independent and dependent variables?
When graphing data for an experiment, the independent variable is plotted on the x-axis, while the dependent variable is recorded on the y-axis. An easy way to keep the two variables straight is to use the acronym DRY MIX, which stands for:
What are the two main variables in a science experiment?
The two main variables in a science experiment are the independent variable and the dependent variable. Here's the definition on independent variable and a look at how it's used:
Does the scientist have control over the student test scores?
On the other hand, the scientist has no control on the students' test scores. The independent variable always changes in an experiment, even if there is just a control and an experimental group. The dependent variable may or may not change in response to the independent variable. In the example regarding sleep and student test scores, ...
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 the purpose of the independent variable in experimental research?
In experimental research, the independent variable is manipulated or changed by the experimenter to measure the effect of this change on the dependent variable.
Why is the independent variable applied at different levels?
The independent variable is usually applied at different levels to see how the outcome differs.
What are some examples of health measures?
For example, if you are interested in the effect of a diet on health, you can use multiple measures of health: blood sugar, blood pressure, weight, pulse, and many more. Each of these is its own dependent variable with its own research question.
Is blood sugar a dependent variable?
The level of blood sugar that you measure is the dependent variable – it changes depending on the type of soda.
Does Scribbr correct grammar?
Scribbr editors not only correct grammar and spelling mistakes, but also strengthen your writing by making sure your paper is free of vague language, redundant words and awkward phrasing.
What side of a regression equation are the variables?
Right-hand -side variables (they appear on the right-hand side of a regression equation).
Can you apply multiple levels of medication?
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.
Why is it important to have only one independent variable?
It is important that there is just one independent variable, so that results are not confusing. The dependent variable is the factor that changes as a result of the change to the independent variable. The controlled variables (or constant variables) are factors that the scientist wants to remain constant if the experiment is to show accurate ...
What is the independent variable of a plant?
The independent variable is that one plant is getting watered (1 cup of water) every day and one plant is getting watered (1 cup of water) once a week. The dependent variables are the changes in the two plants that the scientist observes over time.
What is controlled variable?
The controlled variables (or constant variables) are factors that the scientist wants to remain constant if the experiment is to show accurate results. To be able to measure results, each of the variables must be able to be measured.
How many variables are there in an experiment?
An experiment can have three kinds of variables: i ndependent, dependent, and controlled. The independent variable is one single factor that is changed by the scientist followed by observation to watch for changes. It is important that there is just one independent variable, so that results are not confusing.
What is experimental design?
Experimental Design - Independent, Dependent, and Controlled Variables. Scientific experiments are meant to show cause and effect of a phenomena (relationships in nature). The “ variables ” are any factor, trait, or condition that can be changed in the experiment and that can have an effect on the outcome of the experiment.
What is the purpose of keeping variables constant between two groups?
In a well-designed experiment, all variables apart from the treatment should be kept constant between the two groups. This means researchers can correctly measure the entire effect of the treatment without interference from confounding variables. Example of a control group.
What happens if your control group differs from the treatment group?
If your control group differs from the treatment group in ways that you haven’t accounted for, your results may reflect the interference of confounding variables instead of your independent variable.
Why are control groups important?
Importance of control groups. Control groups help ensure the internal validity of your research. You might see a difference over time in your dependent variable in your treatment group. However, without a control group, it is difficult to know whether the change has arisen from the treatment.
Which class does not use the new teaching method?
In these cases, the classes that did not use the new teaching method, or the state that did not implement the new policy, is the control group.
What are some examples of multiple control groups?
Example of multiple control groups. You have developed a new pill to treat high blood pressure. To test its effectiveness, you run an experiment with a treatment and two control groups. The treatment group gets the new pill. Control group 1 gets an identical-looking sugar pill (a placebo)
Can a study include more than one treatment?
Studies can also include more than one treatment or control group. Researchers might want to examine the impact of multiple treatments at once, or compare a new treatment to several alternatives currently available.
Do you pay students in treatment groups for high grades?
You pay the students in the treatment group for achieving high grades .
When the effect of one independent variable (e.g., treatment type) depends on the levels of another independent variable
When the effect of one independent variable (e.g., treatment type) depends on the levels of another independent variable (e.g., short or long outing), this is called an interaction effect.
What can interaction between independent variables reveal?
Interactions between independent variables can reveal interesting effects of the variables beyond what is seen in the main effects of each variable.
Is age a subject variable?
Some researchers conduct experiments that contain a true independent variable and age as a subject variable, making them
Can interaction effects be tested in all experiments?
An interaction effect can be tested in all experiments.
Why is the independent variable altered in the experimental group?
The experimental group has the independent variable altered or manipulated to test the effects on the dependent variable so the researcher can observe the effects of this change. In the control group, the independent variable is not applied to them.
What type of variable interferes with the results of a study?
Both types of variables have the potential to interfere with the relationship between the independent and dependent variable. Extraneous variables aren't included in the study but can still influence the results of the study if unaccounted for or if not controlled. Confounding variables interfere with study results due to having a connection with the independent variable that is not easy to separate or distinguish. A confounding variable can be considered a type of extraneous variable.
Why are placebos used in research?
Placebos are sometimes used in research in order to demonstrate the effects of participant expectations or beliefs on the outcome of behavior.
What is convenience sampling?
Convenience sampling is based on the availability of participants or volunteers, and quota sampling is based on selecting participants from specific groups to make sure each group is properly represented for the study .
Why is random sampling important in psychology?
Random sampling is preferred in psychological studies because it increases the generalizability of a study. A randomly generated sample is less influenced by any researcher bias since the researcher is not selecting participants directly. Since every member of a population has an equal chance to be selected in a random sample, it is more likely that the sample can be generalized back to the target population because the members of the sample are more likely to be representative of the population as a whole.
Is cause and effect easier to determine in laboratory experiments?
Cause-and-effect relationships are easier to determine in laboratory experiments.
Is an extraneous variable a confounding variable?
An extraneous variable can also be a confounding variable.
What is the primary concern of within-subject variables?
The primary concern of within-subject variables is the order in which the participants receive the different levels of the independent variable
How to avoid problem of individual differences causing differences between conditions?
Avoid problem of individual differences causing differences between conditions by comparing each pt's performance in one condition with performance in other conditions
What is a partial counterbalancing technique called?
A partial counterbalancing technique, called a Latin Square, can be used
Why does statistical analysis become more complex?
Statistical analysis becomes more complex, need more participants to compare groups, as levels of the IV increase the sequences become more complex
What is counterbalancing in medicine?
Instead of hoping chance will balance out the sequence of treatments (randomized approach), counterbalancing involves systematically varying sequences of conditions in a way that routine order effects are balanced out.
Who randomly determines the sequence of treatments?
The researcher randomly determines, for each individual, the sequence of treatments. ** Randomly assign whether participant receives order (B,A) or order (A,B)
Can research mistakenly belief participant improved due to the treatment?
Research may mistakenly belief participant improved due to the treatment
What Is An Independent variable?
Types of Independent Variables
- There are two main types of independent variables. 1. Experimental independent variablescan be directly manipulated by researchers. 2. Subject variablescannot be manipulated by researchers, but they can be used to group research subjects categorically.
What Is A Dependent variable?
- 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: 1. Response variables (they respond to a change in another variable) 2. Outcome variables (they represent the outcom…
Identifying Independent vs. Dependent Variables
- Distinguishing between independent and dependent variables can be tricky when designing a complex study or reading an academic paper. A dependent variable from one study can be the independent variable in another study, so it’s important to pay attention to research design. Here are some tips for identifying each variable type.
Independent and Dependent Variables in Research
- Independent and dependent variables are generally used in experimental and quasi-experimentalresearch. Here are some examples of research questions and corresponding independent and dependent variables. For experimental data, you analyze your results by generating descriptive statistics and visualizing your findings. Then, you select an appropriate st…
Visualizing Independent and Dependent Variables
- In quantitative research, it’s good practice to use charts or graphs to visualize the results of studies. Generally, the independent variable goes on the x-axis (horizontal) and the dependent variable on the y-axis (vertical). The type of visualization you use depends on the variable types in your research questions: 1. A bar chartis ideal when you have a categorical independent variable…