It is also important to remember that while some studies may only have one dependent variable and one independent variable, it is also possible to have several of each type of variable. For example, researchers might want to learn how variables in a single independent variable affect several distinct dependent variables.
When researchers make changes to the independent variable, they then measure any resulting changes to the dependent variable. For example, if a researcher was looking at how studying influences test scores, the amount of studying would be the independent variable and the test scores would be the dependent variable.
What Is a Dependent Variable? The dependent variable is the variable that is being measured or tested in an experiment. For example, in a study looking at how tutoring impacts test scores, the dependent variable would be the participants' test scores, since that is what is being measured.
The amount of alcohol a participant ingests is the independent variable, while their performance on the driving test is the dependent variable. A Word From Verywell Understanding what a dependent variable is and how it is used can be helpful for interpreting different types of research that you encounter in different settings.
Cramer, Duncan and Dennis Howitt. The SAGE Dictionary of Statistics.London: SAGE, 2004; Penslar, Robin Levin and Joan P. Porter. Institutional Review Board Guidebook: Introduction.Washington, DC: United States Department of Health and Human Services, 2010; "What are Dependent and Independent Variables?"
What Is a Dependent Variable? It doesn’t matter whether you’re conducting a sociology survey or doing an experiment in a lab. Dependent and independent variables have the same role in any sort of study.. To truly understand dependent variables, we first need to know how to tell the difference between independent and dependent variables.
Select independent variables that you think will cause changes in another variable. Come up with a hypothesis for what you expect to happen.; Look at other experiments for examples and identify different types of independent variables.
The dependent variable is the variable that is being measured or tested in an experiment. 1 For example, in a study looking at how tutoring impacts test scores, the dependent variable would be the participants' test scores, since that is what is being measured.
One way to help identify the dependent variable is to remember that it depends on the independent variable. When researchers make changes to the independent variable, they then measure any resulting changes to the dependent variable.
The messiness of a room would be the independent variable, but the study would have two dependent variables: levels of creativity and mood.
In an experiment looking at how sleep impacts test performance, the dependent variable would test performance because it's a measure of the participants' behavior.
How does the amount of time spent studying influence test scores? In this example, the amount of studying would be the independent variable and the test scores would be the dependent variable. The test scores vary based on the amount of studying prior to the test. The researcher could change the independent variable by instead evaluating how age or gender influence test scores.
The dependent variable is dubbed dependent because it is thought to depend in some way on the variations of the independent variable.
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
The dependent variable is the variable that is being measured or tested in an experiment. 1 For example, in a study looking at how tutoring impacts test scores, the dependent variable would be the participants' test scores, since that is what is being measured.
One way to help identify the dependent variable is to remember that it depends on the independent variable. When researchers make changes to the independent variable, they then measure any resulting changes to the dependent variable.
The messiness of a room would be the independent variable, but the study would have two dependent variables: levels of creativity and mood.
In an experiment looking at how sleep impacts test performance, the dependent variable would test performance because it's a measure of the participants' behavior.
How does the amount of time spent studying influence test scores? In this example, the amount of studying would be the independent variable and the test scores would be the dependent variable. The test scores vary based on the amount of studying prior to the test. The researcher could change the independent variable by instead evaluating how age or gender influence test scores.
The dependent variable is dubbed dependent because it is thought to depend in some way on the variations of the independent variable.
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.