Unit 12: Variables. In RQs and HYs
56 Independent and Dependent Variables Related to Causation
Listen, ok, here’s the deal. Remember how I told you in a previous unit one of your textbook authors said that I didn’t need to cover some of this QUITE so in depth because you had it in 5th grade? Whelp, I’m going to listen to her because she’s pretty smart. I won’t torture you with a video lecture for this one (particularly when only about a third of you seem to watch them anyway. Although if you’re reading the book you’re probably one of those third so I’m preaching to the wrong choir or however that expression goes).
A word from your student textbook authors:
Learning Objectives
To understand independent and dependent variables are and the criteria for causation.
Independent and Dependent Variables Related to Causation
An independent variable is a variable the researcher manipulates in order to cause a change.
A dependent variable is a variable which the researcher measures.
In order to test for causation, the independent variable must cause the dependent variable.
There are 3 criteria for creating causation[1]
1. Establish that the effect cannot be explained by another variable (this is done by using a control group or controlling the experimental environment by using a lab).
2. The variables must relate to each other.
3. Temporal Precedence (cause happened before effect). In this case, the change of the independent variable must occur before the change in the dependent variable.
E.g.,
- In the study where you are finding out “If cell phone use impacts students grades”, there are two major variables. The Independent Variable is cell phone use, and the Dependent Variable is students’ grades.
Let’s just say you are conducting an experiment about the effect of fertilizer.
Independent Variables: This is the variable that is changing.
-
- ex: Amount of fertilizer
Dependent Variables: This is the variable being measured.
-
- ex: Growth of the plant
Constant: This is the control variable that stays the same throughout the experiment.
-
- ex: Plant with no fertilizer
What did 7th grade science say?
(me again)
I mean. It gets a bit more complicated than this with experimental testing in SS com. But. I’ll allow it. I’m kind of digging the ‘”I” change it’ thing, tho.
uh, this isn’t actually a definition of dependent variable because it uses the outcome a bit convolutedly, however, it’s not wrong.
- Yes, we ARE talking about this again. This is definitely one of the biggest things journalists get wrong in their sensationally headlined "news" stories. Always be claiming causation when it was really only correlation. ↵
is a variable the researcher manipulates in order to cause a change
a variable which the researcher measures