UNIT IX

IDENTIFYING
INDEPENDENT,
DEPENDENT &
EXTRANEOUS
VARIABLES.
What's a variable?

A variable is an object, event, idea, feeling, time period, or any other type of category you are
trying to measure. There are two types of variables-independent and dependent.

What's an independent variable?

An independent variable is exactly what it sounds like. It is a variable that stands alone and isn't
changed by the other variables you are trying to measure. For example, someone's age might be
an independent variable. Other factors (such as what they eat, how much they go to school, how
much television they watch) aren't going to change a person's age. In fact, when you are looking
for relationship between variables you are trying to see if the independent variable causes change
in the other variables, or dependent variables.

What's a dependent variable?

Just like an independent variable, a dependent variable is exactly what it sounds like. It is
something that depends on other factors. For example, a test score could be a dependent variable
because it could change depending on several factors such as how much you studied, how much
sleep you got the night before you took the test, or even how hungry you were when you took it.
Usually when you are looking for a relationship between two things you are trying to find out
what makes the dependent variable change the way it does.

Many people have trouble remembering which is the independent variable and which is the
dependent variable. An easy way to remember is to insert the names of the two variables you are
using in this sentence in the way that makes the most sense. Then you can figure out which is the
independent variable, and which is the dependent variable:

(Independent variable) causes a change in (Dependent Variable) and it isn't possible that
(Dependent Variable) could cause a change in (Independent Variable).

For example:

(Time Spent Studying) causes a change in (Test Score) and it isn't possible that (Test Score)
could cause a change in (Time Spent Studying).
We see that "Time Spent Studying" must be the independent variable and "Test Score" must be
the dependent variable because the sentence doesn't make sense the other way around.

What is an extraneous variable?

When we conduct experiments there are other variables that can affect our results, if we do not
control them.
Anything that is not the independent variable that has the potential to affect the results is called
an extraneous variable. It can be a natural characteristic of the participant, such as intelligence
levels, gender, or age for example, or it could be a feature of the environment such as lighting or
noise.
The researcher wants to make sure that it is the manipulation of the independent variable that has
an effect on the dependent variable.
Hence, all the other variables that could affect the dependent variable to change must be
controlled. These other variables are called extraneous or confounding variables
Identifying Independent, Dependent, and extraneous Variables in 10 research paper.

LONGITUDINAL STUDY

A longitudinal study of skipping breakfast and weight change in adolescents:

In this research the independent variable is the ‘breakfast’ consumed by them because in this
research article the children are trying to lose their body weight by eliminating breakfast.

The dependent variable in this study is the children’s body weight because it is being affected by
the independent variable that is breakfast.
The extraneous is Children who were more physically active reported higher energy intakes, as
did those who reported more time watching television/videos and playing video games.

Longitudinal ongoing research article on the up series

In this research the 14 subjects which were taken for this study are the dependent variable.
The rapid social, economic, political, and demographic changes occurring in Britain are the
independent variable.
Here the extraneous variable is the chances for upward mobility remained limited in late 20th
century Britain.

Longitudinal study conducted on the Minnesota twin study

In this research article the twins are the dependent variable,

the effects of genetics and environmental factors are independent variable.
The extraneous variable is social background.

Longitudinal study on aging article list

Here the physical health of an adult is the independent variable.

The leisure activity effects on an individual's health are the dependent variable.
The extraneous variable is the economic social background.

longitudinal studies on the association between depression and smoking in adolescents.

In this study the independent variable is the association between smoking and depression.
The dependent variable is the adolescent.
The extraneous variable is their personal life (since there can be many reasons for an adolescent
to smoke like peer pressure or personal life problems influence of mass media... which are not
being examined by the investigator).

CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY

Relationship between Smoking and Obesity: A Cross-Sectional Study of 499,504 Middle-

Aged Adults in the UK General Population.

The independent variable is smoking.

The dependent variable is obesity diagnosed middle-aged adults
The extraneous variable thus will be their social background.

Cross-sectional study of prevalence of dementia, behavioral symptoms, mobility, pain and

other health parameters in nursing homes in Austria and the Czech Republic: results from
the DEMDATA project.

In this study dementia, behavioral symptoms mobility pain and other health parameters are the
independent variable

The dependent variable is the individual chosen for the DEMDATA project.

The extraneous variable is the age of the individual, social background, heredity chosen for the
cross-sectional study.

Cross-sectional study of changes in physical activity behavior during the COVID-19

pandemic among US adults.

Here physical activity is the independent variable during COVID-19 pandemic.

The dependent variable is the health disparities in the US adults
The extraneous variable is the health and the age of the adults.

A Cross-Sectional Study to Find Prevalence and Risk Factors for Childhood Asthma in
Pune City, India.

Here the independent variable is risk factors causing childhood asthma.

The dependent variable is the health of the children in Pune city.
The extraneous variable is the environmental factor.
Cross sectional study of the clinical characteristics of French primary care patients with
COVID-19.

Here the independent variable is the COVID-19.

The dependent variable is the clinical characteristics of French primary care patients.

The extraneous variable is the genetics or the heredity of the individuals.