No matter what field of science you work in, such as mathematics, nature, social or artificial sciences, you must conduct certain research and experiments to prove that your claims really exist. The sine qua non of an experiment are the independent variable and the dependent variable. The terms dependent and independent variables are familiar to many of us in mathematics, but they are concepts used in all fields of science.
Whether dependent or independent, these are variables on the name. Because they have the ability to change both themselves and those they interact with. While some of them change as a result of interaction, some are changed by the scientist doing the experiment. The aim is simple, to prove a claim over these variables. Let’s examine the questions like what are the dependent and independent variables and how to find them through examples.
What are independent and dependent variables, how to find them?
What is the independent variable?
It is the variable added to investigate its effects in an experimental research study. The independent variable is called independent because it is not affected by other variables added to the study. Explanatory variables that explain an event or outcome, estimation variables used to estimate the value of the dependent variable, and variables used to the right of a regression equation; are examples of independent variables.
What are the argument types?
Experimental independent variables:
The independent variables that are manipulated directly by the scientist during an experimental research study are called the experimental independent variable. Thanks to this direct manipulation, changes on the dependent variable are observed. It can be applied at multiple levels to see how the dependent variable differs from the independent variable.
In order to get the most accurate results in an experiment, participants should be randomly assigned to experimental independent variable groups. As a result of random assignments, you can control the participant properties in a much healthier way. The dependent variable to be exposed to the experimental independent variable is also extremely important.
Example of experimental arguments:
A new drug has been found and its effect on high blood pressure patients is wanted to be tested. The experimental independent variable will reveal the variation between groups. The groups to be exposed to the experimental independent variable in this example are the low-dose experimental group, the high-dose experimental group, and the placebo group.
Independent subject variables:
The main difference between the experimental independent variable and the independent subject variables is that the independent subject variables cannot be manipulated by the researcher. For example, because the gender, ethnicity, race, income level, and education status of participants in a social research experiment cannot be manipulated, these are considered independent subject variables.
It is not possible to randomly assign participants to groups consisting of independent subject variables. Because the characteristics of each participant and therefore the group are certain. In a study using independent subject variables, a different path should be followed and an evaluation should be made on the existing features.
Example of arguments subject variables:
You are doing what is called a quasi-experimental design because there is no random assignment, and your goal is to see the effects of genders on infant crying. You have two sets of independent subject variables, male and female. You expose the dependent variable to these groups and evaluate its effects on traits that are already evident. So when a baby cries, is the female effect better or the male effect? As a result of the evaluations, the answer to this question is sought.
How to find the independent variable?
To find the independent variable, you must first find and list all the dependent and independent variables in the research experiment. After determining all the variables, you can find out which one is the independent variable by asking the following questions;
- Is the variable manipulated by the researcher?
- Is the variable checked?
- Is the variable used as a method of subject grouping?
- Does the variable temporally precede the next variable?
- Does the researcher look to see if the variable affects another variable?
- Does the researcher look at how the variable affects another variable?
What is the dependent variable?
The variable that differs as a result of the effects of the independent variable in an experimental research study is called the dependent variable. Since it depends on the independent variable, it is called the dependent variable and it is the variable that will give the desired result as a result of the experiment.
Response variables that respond to a change in another variable, outcome variables that show the outcome you want to measure, variables used on the left side of a regression equation; are examples of dependent variables.
The dependent variable is exactly what you record after making changes to the independent variable. Statistical analyzes are made on all these recorded measurement data, and as a result, whether the independent variable affects the dependent variable, and if so, how and to what extent it is revealed.
When you have enough evidence, you can clearly see how and to what extent different versions of the independent variable affect the same independent variable. The richer the independent variable versions are, the richer the differences in the dependent variable will be.
Example of dependent variable:
You are conducting an experiment showing the relationship between students’ math test scores and room temperature. The independent variable in this experiment is room temperature. Some of the students are placed in a cold room and some in a warm room. The dependent variable is math test scores. The performance of all participants according to different independent variables, namely temperature, is measured and the effect on the dependent variable, namely grades, is controlled.
How to find the dependent variable?
To find the dependent variable, you must first find and list all the dependent and independent variables in the research experiment. After determining all the variables, you can find out which one is the dependent variable by asking the following questions;
- Is the variable being measured as a result of the study?
- Is the variable dependent on another variable in the study?
- Is the variable measured after all variables in the run have been changed?
Examples of dependent and independent variables:
- Experiment: Under which type of light tomatoes grow faster.
- Independent variable: The type of light in which the tomato was grown.
- Dependent variable: Growth rate of tomato.
- Experiment: What is the effect of intermittent fasting on blood sugar?
- Independent variable: Presence and absence of intermittent fasting.
- Dependent variable: blood sugar level.
- Experiment: Does remote work satisfy employees?
- Independent variable: Working environment.
- Dependent variable: Employee satisfaction
We explained the types of variables through examples by answering questions such as what are dependent and independent variables, which are indispensable for scientific research experiments, and how to find them. Variable definitions can be detailed differently with different disciplines, but we tried not to overwhelm them with technical details in order to be much more understandable in our article. You can share your thoughts on the subject in the comments.
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