In science, an independent variable is a variable that is intentionally changed or controlled by the researcher to observe its effects on the dependent variable. It is also known as the cause or the explanatory variable, as it explains an event or outcome. The independent variable is not influenced by other variables in the study and is often represented as the right-hand-side variable in a regression equation.
Here are some key points about independent variables:
- They can be objects, events, ideas, feelings, time periods, or any other category being measured.
- They are not changed by the other variables being measured.
- They are manipulated, controlled, or varied in an experimental study.
- They are the focus of the study, as researchers are interested in understanding how changes in the independent variable affect the dependent variable.
For example, in a study testing the effect of different study techniques on test scores, the independent variable would be the study technique, while the dependent variable would be the test scores. The researcher would manipulate the independent variable (study technique) and observe its effects on the dependent variable (test scores).
