The independent variable was active, and subjects were randomly assigned to one of the groups (the clue is the word "randomized" in the title). See more. In an experiment, some volunteers receive the new treatment, another group receives a different treatment, and a third group receives no treatment. Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. As the name suggests, experiments are designed such that an independent variable isn't influenced by the other variables in the experiment. Independent Variable Examples . In order to understand how the independent variable is used in experiments, it can be helpful to look at some different examples. In an experiment, one group of workers is given a great deal of input in how they perform their work, while the other group is not. Researchers are trying to determine if changes to the independent variable (studying) result in significant changes to the dependent variable (the test results). At the outset of an experiment, it is important for researchers to operationally define the independent variable. Is the variable something that cannot be changed but that is not dependent on other variables in the experiment? Independent Variable The variable that is stable and unaffected by the other variables you are trying to measure. An operational definition describes exactly what the independent variable is and how it is measured. We Asked, You Answered. Question: What's an independent variable? Dictionary.com Unabridged An independent variable is a variable that is changed in an experiment to produce a result. The independent and dependent variables are the two key variables in a science experiment. Read our, Verywell Mind uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience and for our, How Psychologists Use Different Research in Experiments, Why Control Groups Play an Essential Role in Psychology Experiments, Using Simple Experiments to Find a Cause-and-Effect Relationship, Different Types of Variables Used in Studying Psychology Hypotheses, Psychologists Use Experimental Methods to Study Human Behavior, How Random Assignment Is Used in Psychology Studies. A well-designed experiment has only one independent variable in order to maintain a fair test. The independent variable in this example is the type of therapy. Researchers want to determine if a new type of treatment will lead to a reduction in anxiety for patients living with social phobia. Two other kinds of variables that might influence the outcome include: Extraneous variables can also include demand characteristics (which are clues about how the participants should respond) and experimenter effects (which is when the researchers accidentally provide clues about how a participant will respond). The independent variable is one that the researchers either manipulate (such as the amount of something) or that already exists but is not dependent upon other variables (such as the age of the participants). Independent Variable Definition. Come up with a. The dependent variable is the biomass of the crops at harvest time. Select independent variables that you think will cause changes in another variable. The independent variables in a particular experiment all depend on the hypothesis and what the experimenters are investigating. Related Differences A variable is a category or characteristic that’s measured in an equation or experiment. “Epidemic” vs. “Pandemic” vs. “Endemic”: What Do These Terms Mean? Even if you can't be a professional chef, you can at least talk like one with this vocabulary quiz. An independent variable is a variable that is changed in an experiment to produce a result. Independent variable: What the scientist changes or what changes on its own.