Variables

I N D E P E N D E N T V A R I A B L E

  • manipulated by the experimenter in order to observe effects of the dependent variable

  • used to establis cause and effect

D E P E N D E N T V A R I A B L E

  • results of the dependent variable depends on the independent variable

  • its what’s measured

C O - V A R I A B L E S

  • when using a correlation, its impossible to manipulate both variables

  • with co-variables, we compare the 2 variables to eachother

C O N F O U N D I N G V A R I A B L E S

  • variables the researcher failed to control or eliminate


operationalisation of variables

  • its good to make sure your variables are precise in your experiment so they relate to the subject.

for example:

dependent variable: time, isn’t operationalised

dependent variable: time taken to do task in seconds, is operationalised