Meaning of Variables and Types of Variables (Independent vs Dependent)

Vocabulary flashcards covering the meanings of variables and the roles of independent and dependent variables from the lecture notes.

Variable

A property or characteristic of an event, object, or person that can take on different values or amounts, and can be measured, manipulated, or controlled.

Independent variable

A variable that is manipulated or controlled by the researcher to study its relationship or effects on other variables; the presumed cause in an experiment.

Dependent variable

The outcome variable that changes in response to the independent variable; the variable for which statistics are calculated.

Measurable terms

Aspects of a variable described in measurable (quantifiable) terms in research.

Presumed or possible cause

An implied cause stating that the independent variable influences the dependent variable.

Age (example of a variable)

Age can vary between individuals or over time and thus is a variable.

Income (example of a variable)

Income can be assigned a value and vary among individuals.