Dependent variable

. The values of the dependent variable depend upon another variable, the independent variable. Strictly speaking, dependent variable should not be used when writing about no experimental designs.

Independent Variable Definition

The independent variable is the variable that is manipulated by the researcher. The independent variable is something that is hypothesized to influence the dependent variable. The researcher determines for the participant what level or condition of the independent variable that the participant in the experiment receives

Moderating variable
A variable that influences, or moderates, the relation between two other variables and thus produces an interaction effect.

Intervening variable
An intervening variable is a hypothetical internal state that is used to explain relationships between observed variables, such as independent and dependent variables

Example Depended and Independent Variable

Imagine you are studying the water levels of a small lake in the mountains, and you predict the water levels of the lake in late spring are dependent on the amount of snowfall accumulated over the fall and winter months in the elevations higher than the lake. You hypothesize that the more snow the higher elevations receive, the higher the water level will be. Each spring, for several years, you measure water levels and snow levels. In this example, water level is the dependent variable and snow level is the independent variable. Water level is dependent on the amount of snow. More snow causes more runoff which in turn, flows into the lake, causing the water level to rise. Conversely, the amount of snow is independent of the amount of water in the lake. That is, an increase in water does not magically cause more snow to fall.

Moderating Variable
The independent variable's relationship with the dependent variable may change under different conditions. That condition is the moderator variable. In a study of two methods of teaching reading, one of the methods of teaching reading may work better with boys than girls. Method of teaching reading is the independent variable and reading achievement is the dependent variable. Gender is the moderator variable because it moderates or changes the relationship between the independent variable (teaching method) and the dependent variable (reading achievement).