Independent and Dependent Variables

What does "independent variable" mean?

The variable you change or manipulate in an experimental study to examine its
effects is known as an independent variable. Because it is unaffected by any other
study variables, it is referred to as being "independent."

Independent variables are also called:

 Explanatory factors - (they explain an event or outcome)
 Predictor Variables (they can be used to predict the value of a dependent
variable).
 Right-hand-side variables (they appear on the right-hand side of a regression
equation).
These phrases are particularly useful in statistics, where you evaluate how well a
change in one independent variable can account for or anticipate changes in another.

Types of independent variables

There are two main types of independent variables.
 Experimental independent variables can be directly manipulated by
researchers.
 Subject variables cannot be manipulated by researchers, but they can be used
to group research subjects categorically.

What is a dependent variable?

A dependent variable is the variable that changes as a result of the independent
variable manipulation. It’s the outcome you’re interested in measuring, and it “depends”
on your independent variable.
In statistics, dependent variables are also called:
 Response variables (they respond to a change in another variable)
 Outcome variables (they represent the outcome you want to measure)
 Left-hand-side variables (they appear on the left-hand side of a regression
equation)
The dependent variable is what you record after you’ve manipulated the
independent variable. You use this measurement data to check whether and to what
extent your independent variable influences the dependent variable by conducting
statistical analyses.
You can calculate the extent to which changes in your independent variable
influence changes in your dependent variable based on your findings. Additionally, you
can forecast how much the fluctuation in the independent variable will affect your
dependent variable.
Difference between Dependent and Independent Variable
Here is the difference between Independent and Dependent Variable:

 Independent Variable  Dependent Variable

 An Independent variable is a variable whose

 A dependent variable is a variabl
value never depends on another variable but
whose value depends on another variable
the researcher.

 The Independent variable is the presumed  The dependent variable is the presume
cause. effect.

 Any change in the independent variable also  Dependent variable changes, then th
affects the dependent variable. independent variable will not be affected.

 Independent variables are the predictors or  Dependent variables are often referred a
regressors. the predicted variable.

 Independent variables can become easily  Dependent variables are obtained from
obtainable and do not need any complex longitudinal research or by solvin
mathematical procedures and observations. complex mathematical equations.

 Independent variables are can be manipulated

 You cannot be manipulated by th
by the researcher. So he or she is biased.
research or any other external factor.
Then it may affect the results of the research.

 Independent variables are positioned  Dependent variables are positione

horizontally on the graph. vertically on the graph.