Independent vs Dependent Variables in Science

Molly investigated if the age of students caused them to be better drivers. She compared the number of accidents that 16 year olds, 17 year olds, and 18 year olds each had in Birmingham over the last 5 years. The number of accidents is the...

• independent variable

• dependent variable

Sam wanted to know if the color of the chair you sat in when taking a test affected your test grade. For one class, he had students sit in red chairs, and for another he had them sit in blue chairs. What is the independent variable?

• Color or chair

• Grade on test

• Age of students

Sam wanted to know if the color of the chair you sat in when taking a test affected your test grade. For one class, he had students sit in red chairs, and for another he had them sit in blue chairs. What is the dependent variable?

• Color or chair

• Grade on test

• Age of students

Robert wanted to know if the type of phone you used gave you better or worse service. He made five phone calls on a Samsung, an iPhone, and a Motorola and compared the reception and call quality. What is the dependent variable?

• Location of phone call

• Type of phone

• The reception and call quality

Sarah wanted to find out if the size of a car tire made it a smoother ride over bumps. She drove her car over the same bumpy road three times, with a different sized tire set each time, and observed how much water splashed out of a cup in her cupholder. What is the independent variable?

• Size of tire

• The amount of water that splashed out of the cup

• Type of car

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-2

NGSS.MS-ETS1-3

Sarah wanted to find out if the size of a car tire made it a smoother ride over bumps. She drove her car over the same bumpy road three times, with a different sized tire set each time, and observed how much water splashed out of a cup in her cupholder. What is the dependent variable?

• Size of tire

• The amount of water that splashed out of the cup

• Type of car

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-2

Spending time with a family dog decreases the amount of stress someone is feeling. What is the dependent variable?

• time with the family dog

• amount of stress

• There isn't one.

Workers at a company were assigned to one of two conditions: One group completed a stress management training system; another group of workers did not participate in the training. The number of sick days taken by these workers was counted and studied for the next 2 months. Identify the dependent variable.

• stress management training or not

• number of sick days

• There isn't one.

Students at a local college were split into two groups and each received a different textbook for a course. Once group received a traditional textbook while the other recieved an interactive textbook on a tablet computer. After the course, the final exam grades between the two groups of students were compared. Identify the independent variable.

• type of textbook

• final exam grades

• There isn't one.

If students spend more time using TikTok, then they will read fewer books. Identify the independent variable.

• amount of time on TikTok

• number of books read

• There isn't one.