Variables have different purposes or roles...

Independent (Experimental, Manipulated, Treatment, Grouping) Variable-That factor which is

measured, manipulated, or selected by the experimenter to determine its relationship to an
observed phenomenon. "In a research study, independent variables are antecedent conditions
that are presumed to affect a dependent variable. They are either manipulated by the researcher
or are observed by the researcher so that their values can be related to that of the dependent
variable. For example, in a research study on the relationship between mosquitoes and mosquito
bites, the number of mosquitoes per acre of ground would be an independent variable" (Jaeger,
1990, p. 373)

While the independent variable is often manipulated by the researcher, it can also be a
classification where subjects are assigned to groups. In a study where one variable causes the
other, the independent variable is the cause. In a study where groups are being compared, the
independent variable is the group classification.

Dependent (Outcome) Variable-That factor which is observed and measured to determine the
effect of the independent variable, i.e., that factor that appears, disappears, or varies as the
experimenter introduces, removes, or varies the independent variable. "In a research study, the
independent variable defines a principal focus of research interest. It is the consequent variable
that is presumably affected by one or more independent variables that are either manipulated by
the researcher or observed by the researcher and regarded as antecedent conditions that
determine the value of the dependent variable. For example, in a study of the relationship
between mosquitoes and mosquito bites, the number of mosquito bites per hour would be the
dependent variable" (Jaeger, 1990, p. 370)The dependent variable is the participant's response.

The dependent variable is the outcome. In an experiment, it may be what was caused or what
changed as a result of the study. In a comparison of groups, it is what they differ on.

An independent variable is one is manipulated by the researcher. It is like the knob on a

dial that the researcher turns. In graphs, it is put on the X-axis.

A dependent variable is one which changes as a result of the independent variable being
changed, and is put on the Y-axis in graphs.

The holy grail for researchers is to be able to determine the relationship between the
independent and dependent variables, such that if the independent variable is changed,
then the researcher will be able to accurately predict how the dependent variable will
change.

Extraneous variables are additional variables which could provide alternative

explanations or cast doubt on conclusions.

Variables may have the following characteristics:

 Period: When it starts and stops.

 Pattern: Daily, weekly, ad-hoc, etc.
 Detail: Overview through to 'in depth'.
 Latency: Time between measuring dependent and independent variable (some
things take time to take effect).
WHAT ARE RESEARCH VARIABLES?
The research variables, of any scientific experiment or research process, are factors that
can be manipulated and measured. Any factor that can take on different values is a
scientific variable and influences the outcome of experimental research. Most scientific
experiments measure quantifiable factors, such as time or weight, but this is not essential
for a component to be classed as a variable.

Gender, color and country are all perfectly acceptable variables, because they are
inherently changeable, although difficult to analyze statistically. As an example, most of
us have filled in surveys where a researcher asks questions and asks you to rate answers.
These responses generally have a numerical range, from ‘1 – Strongly Agree’ through to
‘5 – Strongly Disagree’. This type of measurement allows opinions to be statistically
analyzed and evaluated.

DEPENDENT AND INDEPENDENT VARIABLES

The key to designing any experiment is to look at what research variables could affect the
outcome. A researcher must then determine which variable needs to be manipulated to
generate quantifiable results. There are many types of variable but the most important, for
the vast majority of research methods, are the independent and dependent variables.

The independent variable is the core of the experiment and is isolated and manipulated by
the researcher. The dependent variable is the measurable outcome of this manipulation,
the results of the experimental design. For many physical experiments, isolating the
independent variable and measuring the dependent is generally easy.

If you designed an experiment to determine how quickly a cup of coffee cools, the
manipulated independent variable is time and the dependent measured variable is
temperature. In other fields of science, the variables are often are more difficult to
determine and an experiment needs a robust design.

Another important distinction having to do with the term 'variable' is the distinction
between an independent and dependent variable. This distinction is particularly relevant
when you are investigating cause-effect relationships. It took me the longest time to learn
this distinction. (Of course, I'm someone who gets confused about the signs for 'arrivals'
and 'departures' at airports -- do I go to arrivals because I'm arriving at the airport or does
the person I'm picking up go to arrivals because they're arriving on the plane!). I
originally thought that an independent variable was one that would be free to vary or
respond to some program or treatment, and that a dependent variable must be one that
depends on my efforts (that is, it's the treatment). But this is entirely backwards! In fact
the independent variable is what you (or nature) manipulates -- a treatment or program
or cause. The dependent variable is what is affected by the independent variable -- your
effects or outcomes. For example, if you are studying the effects of a new educational
program on student achievement, the program is the independent variable and your
measures of achievement are the dependent ones.
Read more: http://www.experiment-resources.com/research-
variables.html#ixzz0M41AlrDk