An independent variable is a variable that stands alone and is not influenced by any other variable in the study. It is the variable that is manipulated or varied in an experimental study to explore its effects. Some common independent variables include time, space, density, mass, fluid flow rate, and previous values of some observed value of interest. In an experiment, any variable that can be attributed a value without attributing a value to any other variable is called an independent variable. Independent variables are also called explanatory variables or predictor variables.
To determine the independent variable in a study, look for the variable that is being manipulated or varied. It is the variable that is changed by the researcher to see how it affects the dependent variable.
