Independent Variable
Definition
The variable that is manipulated to observe its effect on the dependent variable.
Example
A researcher wants to study the effects of a new form of therapy on people experiencing anxiety. A sample is selected and randomly assigned to either a control group or an experimental group. The dependent variable is the level of anxiety each participant reports after the therapy — it’s what the researcher is measuring to see if the therapy had any effect. The independent variable is the new form of therapy.
Why It Matters
The independent variable is what the researcher changes on purpose to see what happens. It’s at the heart of every experiment — the “what if” part of the question. Knowing how to identify and control the independent variable is key to designing a study that can actually test your ideas and lead to meaningful results.
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