How is the independent variable different from the dependent variable?
A) the independent variable is manipulated during the experiment to understand the effects of this manipulation on the dependent variable
B) the dependent variable is manipulated during the experiment to understand the effects of this manipulation on the independent variable
C) dependent and independent variables are only used when researchers are not interested in looking at the effects of one thing on another, but only in how variables may be related
D) the independent variable is a variable not included in the experiment, but is related to one of the variables in the experiment

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The independent variable is the variable that is being manipulated or changed in the experiment, while the dependent variable is the one being measured to see the effects of the manipulation. This means that the independent variable is different because it is the cause or the factor being studied, while the dependent variable is the effect or the outcome being observed. Option B is incorrect because it confuses the roles of the variables in an experiment. Option C is also incorrect because dependent and independent variables are specifically used to describe cause and effect relationships in research studies. Option D is incorrect because independent variables are always included and manipulated in the experiment.

How Is the Independent Variable Different from the Dependent Variable