Independent & Dependent Variables

Variables, Control, and Control Group

Open Ended

Explain the to a friend what these are: Independent variables & Dependent variables

Answer

Independent variable: what is manipulated or being tested in an experiment.

Dependent variable: what changes because of the independent variable or how we will measure the indendent variable.

Independent Variable

Controlled by experimenter Can be changed or manipulated by the experimenter Not affected by dependent variable

How to Identify Independent Variable 

• What are we testing for?

• What's causing the effect?

• What's different in the experiment?

Question

David believed that fertilizer will make the plant grow faster, so he treated one plant with fertilizer and the other plant did not receive fertilizer

Multiple Choice

What is the independent variable?

• Plant growth

• Fertilizer

• Water

Dependent Variable

Responds to independent variable Is measured in an experiment or study.

How to Identify the Dependent Variable 

• What is responding to the cause or independent variable?

• What is being measured?

Question

David believed that fertilizer will make the plant grow faster, so he treated one plant with fertilizer and the other plant did not receive fertilizer

Multiple Choice

What is the dependent variable?

• Fertilizer

• Plant growth

• Water