The variable that we believe will affect the dependent variable is the _____.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The independent variable is the variable that is manipulated or changed in an experiment to see its effect on the dependent variable. It is what is believed to have an effect on the outcome, and is therefore the variable of interest. Confounding variables and extraneous variables are both potential sources of error in an experiment that could affect the outcome, but they are not the variable of interest. Discrete variables are a type of variable that has distinct categories or values, but this is not necessarily relevant to determining what variable will affect the dependent variable.

The Variable That We Believe Will Affect the Dependent Variable