1. Q.1 Define Independent and Dependent Variables.
By- Jemima Sultana
Department of Education
Aligarh Muslim University
2. A variable is any characteristics, number, or
quantity that can be measured or counted.
Age, sex, business income and expenses,
country of birth, capital expenditure, class
grades, eye color and vehicle type are
examples of variables. It is called a variable
because the value may vary between data
units in a population, and may change in
value over time.
I. INDEPENDENT VARIABLES
II. DEPENDENT VARIABLES
VARIABLES
3. INDEPENDENT VARIABLE
• Independent variable is antecedent to the dependent variable.
• This is the variable whose effect is going to be known.
• It can be measured, manipulated and controlled by the experimenter.
• It is the cause of a study.
• The values of independent variable are under experimenter’s control.
• It influence the dependent variable
EXAMPLE: Research Question: “A study of the effect of teacher praise on the
reading achievement of second grades students.”
Independent Variables: the amount and kind of praise……No praise, oral
praise, written praise or both.
4. DEPENDENT VARIABLE
• Dependent variable is the consequence of independent variable.
• It is referred to as outcome or effect or responding or criterion variables.
• It cannot be manipulated or controlled by the researcher.
• Dependent variable is influenced by independent variable.
• The result of dependent variable may change by making changes of independent
variable.
EXAMPLE: Research Question: “A study of the effect of teacher praise on the
reading achievement of second grades students.”
Dependent Variable: the reading achievement of second grades students.
6. Differences Between Independent and Dependent Variables
Basis of Differences Independent Variable Dependent Variable
Meaning
The variables that do not
depend upon other
variables are known as
independent variables.
The variables that depend
upon other variables are
known as dependent
variables.
Control Independent variables are
controllable.
Dependent variables are not
controllable.
Explanation
Independent variables
explain the cause and effect
of changes in the variables.
Dependent variables are
explained by the
independent variables.
Change Can be influenced by
researcher.
Changes in response
variables are directly caused
by the changes in
independent variables.
Outcome It is the exposure variable
that is used in research.
It is the outcome of the
research
