1.

INDEPENDENT VARIABLE
The cause is an independent variable. In your analysis, its value is independent of other variables.

2. DEPENDENT VARIABLE
The effect is the dependent variable. Its value depends on changes to the independent variable.

EXAMPLE

RESEARCH QUESTION INDEPENDENT VARIABLE(S) DEPENDENT VARIABLE(S)

How does phone use before  The amount of phone use  Number of hours of sleep
bedtime affect sleep? before bed  Quality of sleep

3. MODERATING VARIABLE
is a qualitative (e.g. sex, race, class) or quantitative (e.g. level of reward) variable that affects the
direction and/or strength of the relation between an independent variable and a dependent
variable. Moderating variable has a strong contingent effect on the independent-dependent
variable relationship whereby its presence modifies the original relationship between the
independent-dependent variables. In a schematic diagram, the relationship between these
variables can be represented as follows.

Example
A mediator variable may be something as simple as a psychological response to given events. For example, suppose buying
pizza for a work party leads to positive morale and to the work being done in half the time.

 Pizza is the independent variable,

 Work speed is the dependent variable,
 The mediator, the middle man without which there would be no connection, is positive morale.

4.Intervening Variable (IIV)

Also called the mediator or mediating variable. The presence of this variable strengthens the link
between the independent and dependent variables.

Example
there is an association between being poor and having a shorter life span. Just because someone is poor doesn’t mean that
will lead to an early death, so other hypothetical variables are used to explain the phenomenon. These intervening variables
could include: lack of access to healthcare or poor nutrition.