INTRODUCTION TO SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATION

LESSON

6.3 IDENTIFICATION OF
30 Minutes
VARIABLES
Time Allotted: 1 min Actual Time: __________
At the end of this module, you should be able to identify the three types of variables.

Time Allotted: 1 min Actual Time: __________

When you already know what you would like to investigate on, then you should identify the
aspects of your study. Below are the questions that you should consider first as you think about
your scientific investigation:
1. What factor do I want to change or manipulate in my investigation?
2. What factor do I want to measure or observe?
3. What factors should I keep constant or the same?

These factors are the variables in your scientific investigation.

Time Allotted: 10 min Actual Time: __________

A variable is something that is changed or can change. In experiments, variables are used to help
determine the “cause” and the “effect”. They come in pairs: independent variable (IV) and
dependent variable (DV).

An independent variable (IV) is a factor you change as you do the experiment. The IV is the “cause”
in your experiment. As its name implies, it is a variable that stands alone and does not respond to
other variables. You determine and control the IV in your experiment. In other words, you can
manipulate the independent variable during an experiment to discover what effect it has on other
variables. Thus, IV is also known as the manipulated variable (MV).

The dependent variable, as its name implies, depends on the independent variable. This is the result
or “effect” that you will observe/measure in your experiment. Since it responds to the changes that
you made in your IV or MV, hence, DV is also known as the responding variable (RV).

In fact, experiments are designed to help discover relationship between the variables: does the
independent variable cause change in the dependent variable.

Learning Guide 6.3 page 1 of 6

There can only be one independent variable and one dependent
variable in an experiment. Everything else that can affect the
experiment must be kept constant or controlled. These are known
as controlled variables (CV). These factors are kept constant or
the same for all setups.

For example, you are interested in designing several experiments

to test the factors that affect how quickly a powdered juice
dissolves in water (solution rate). After reading some related Figure 1: The three types of
variables in an experiment.
studies, you found out there are several factors that can affect the
dissolving rate of a substance such as temperature of the water, size of the
substance to be dissolved (solute) and rate of stirring.

You decided to choose the temperature of the water as the factor that could
affect the time it takes for the powdered juice to completely dissolve. And you
stated your problem as:
“What effect does temperature of water have on the dissolving rate of
a powdered juice?”

You can clearly identify from the question that the IV/MV is the temperature
of the water while your DV/RV is the dissolving rate (time it takes for the Figure 2: Filipinos
powdered juice to completely dissolve). This means that in your experiment, usually prepare
powdered juice in a
you have several set-ups wherein each set-up varies in terms of the temperature
pitcher of water at
of the water. The set-up is illustrated in Figure 3. room temperature
then ice will be
added once the
powder is completely
dissolved. Image
from:
https://images.app.g
oo.gl/WHYrDur2p9d
7GBfk7

Figure 3: The set-ups above differ in the temperature of the water: hot, room temperature,
and cold (with ice). Each glass has a thermometer to record the temperature of each set -
up. Image from: https://images.app.goo.gl/N39p27gieCJoF8xcA

Now that the IV and DV are clearly identified, you must now determine the controlled variables in
your experiment. Remember that there are other factors that could affect the result of your
experiment; hence, you have to make sure that the rest of the factors should be held constant in all of
your set ups. Look at Figure 3 again, what are the factors are kept the same for the three set-ups?

Learning Guide 6.3 page 2 of 6

The controlled variables in the example are:
1. Height and diameter of the container
2. Amount of water
Aside from the mentioned CVs, we should also make sure that the following factors are controlled:
1. Amount of powdered juice
2. Flavor
3. Brand of the juice

Another important detail that we need to take note as we identify our variables is that we must specify
the operational definition of the variables. This refer to how we, as the experimenter, decide to
measure or use the variables in our experiment.

Examples:

Independent Variable: The temperature of the water in degree Celsius (°C).

Dependent Variable: The dissolving time of the powdered juice in seconds (s).
Controlled variables: a. The height and diameter of the glass in centimeters (cm).
b. The amount of water in milliliter (mL).
c. The amount of powdered juice in grams (g).
d. The flavor of the juice is orange.
e. The brand is (name of the brand).

But not all variables can be measured, some can only be defined by giving a specific description of
that variable.

For example, product advertisements are often comparing the

specific product to another brand – the brand X. An example of this
is the commercial of Joy dishwashing liquid where it claims that it
can wash more dishes compared to other brands. Since you want to
know if the claim is true, you will also conduct an investigation using
Joy and other dishwashing liquids.

What is the IV in this case? Does it involve measurement?

The IV in this event is the brand of dishwashing liquid. As for the Figure 4: The advertisement of
operational definition, you must specify the brands that you will use this product claims that this
- different brands of dishwashing liquid: Joy, Bonus, Smart. dishwashing liquid can wash
more plates than other brands.
This is based on their tests.
Lastly, a variable that involves counting does not come with a unit.
For example, the DV in the dishwashing experiment is the number of plates washed by each brand.

Take note of this, in stating your variables, it is not only enough that you say “temperature”, “water”,
“type” or “time”. This way of stating your variables is very unclear! It could cause confusion to the
readers and future experimenters. Defining your variables operationally will help other people who
will try to reproduce your experiment for further analyses of the results. This will also let the readers
fully understand your work.

Learning Guide 6.3 page 3 of 6

 Time Allotted: 9 min Actual Time: __________

Activity 1: NON-GRADE FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT

Let us try to check if you can identify the variable in each of the following scenario. Identify the
IV, and DV. Identify the constants. You may add more constants that should be applied in each
scenario. Also, if applicable, provide the operational definition for each variable. Follow your
teacher’s instruction on submission.

1. Mrs. Ong, a certified plantita, wanted to see if the color of light shined on a plant had an effect
on the number of leaves it had. She gathered 3 groups of the same species of plants, gave them
the same amount of water, place them in the same location and did the test for one month. On
one group of plants she used white light. On the second group she changed the light color to red.
On the last group she used a blue light.

IV/MV: _______________________________________________________________
DV/RV: _______________________________________________________________
CVs: _________________________________________________________________

2. Making and flying a paper airplane is a part of most people’s childhood. As you make your
paper airplane, you wondered how the mass of your paper airplane would affect the distance it
would fly and started to investigate. You added paper clips on the paper airplane before each
test flight. As each paper clip was added, the plane was tested to determine how far it would fly

IV/MV: _______________________________________________________________
DV/RV: _______________________________________________________________
CVs: _________________________________________________________________

3. The goldfishes in a tank are fed the normal amount of food once a day. On the second tank, the
goldfishes are fed twice a day. On the third tank, the goldfishes are fed four times a day during
a six-week study. The average mass of the fishes in each tank is measured and recorded daily.

IV/MV: _______________________________________________________________
DV/RV: _______________________________________________________________
CVs: _________________________________________________________________

Learning Guide 6.3 page 4 of 6

 Time Allotted: 9 min Actual Time: __________

In Summary
There are three types of variables involved in conducting scientific investigations. Independent or
Manipulated variables are the factors that you can control or change. Dependent or Responding
variables are the results of your experimentation. Lastly, to make sure that only factor is tested in an
experiment, that is the independent or manipulated variable, you set the other factors the same or
constant in all the set-ups.

GRADED FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT

Carefully read each scenario and identify the independent variable, dependent variable, and
constants. If the constants are not stated, list down the possible factors that should be held constant
in doing the scientific investigation. Then, construct a scientific question that contains the IV and
DV.

Scoring:
IV/MV – 1 pt
DV/RV – 1 pt
CVs– 3 pts; identify at least 3 CVs
Question – 1 pt

Follow your teacher’s instruction on submission.

1. The Fernando family just moved into their new house. To preserve the condition of the floor
tiles, they wanted to determine which type of floor wax, whether the more expensive “Tough Stuff”
floor wax or the cheaper “Steel Seal” floor wax is better at protecting its floor tiles against
scratches. Half a liter of each brand of floor wax was applied to the specific areas in the living
room where most of the family activities happen. The test sections were all the same size and were
covered with the same kind of tiles. After 3 weeks, the number of scratches in each of the test
sections was counted to observe the wax’s effectiveness.

IV/MV: ______________________________________________________________
DV/RV: ______________________________________________________________
CVs: ________________________________________________________________
Question: _____________________________________________________________

2. Vicente, a certified plantito, wanted to find out what kind of soil works best for growing Pechay.
He grew them in potting soil, clay, sand, and soil he found outside his yard. After one week, he
counted the leaves they had.

IV/MV: ______________________________________________________________
DV/RV: ______________________________________________________________
CVs: ________________________________________________________________
Question: _____________________________________________________________

Learning Guide 6.3 page 5 of 6

 3. Michelle wanted to know how much bathroom cleaner she should use to effectively clean the
tiles. She diluted 10 mL, 25 mL, and 30 mL of cleaner in a 500 mL of water. She labeled each
container with the amount of diluted cleaner. She sprayed each mixture on each of the respective
test section. She waited for 10 minutes before wiping the tiles. She then ranked the test sections
according to their whiteness.

IV/MV: ______________________________________________________________
DV/RV: ______________________________________________________________
CVs: ________________________________________________________________
Question: _____________________________________________________________

Funk, J.H. (1985). Learning Science Process Skills. Pennsylvania State University: Kendall/Hunt
Publishing House

Tillery B.W, Enger E. D., & Ross F. C.. (2015). Integrated Science. New York: McGraw Hill

Prepared by Reviewed by Approved by

MARVICE JOYCE V. ONG YNA CAMILLE A. MONGCAL ALICE C. MANUEL

Special Science Teacher II Special Science Teacher IV Special Science Teacher IV
Main Campus Main Campus Cagayan Valley Campus

Learning Guide 6.3 page 6 of 6

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