the indenpendent variable

the indenpendent variable

It is important to understand the difference between independent and dependent variables. Here is a simple example. An independent variable (your intervention) is the variable that is changed or controlled in a scientific experiment to test the effects on the dependent variable. A dependent variable (your outcome) is the variable being tested and measured in an experiment. The dependent variable is ‘dependent’ on the independent variable. As the experimenter changes the indenpendent variable, the effect on the dependent variable is observed and recorded.For example, a scientist wants to see if the brightness of light has any effect on a moth being attracted to the light. The brightness of the light is controlled by the scientist. This would be the independent variable. How the moth reacts to the different light levels (distance to light source) would be the dependent variable.