What does the independent variable represent in an experiment?

What does the independent variable represent in an experiment?

• A. The variable that remains unchanged throughout the experiment
• B. The variable that is measured in response to changes
• C. The variable that the researcher manipulates
• D. The overall outcome of the experiment

Answer: (C)

In an experiment, the independent variable represents the factor that the researcher intentionally changes or manipulates to observe its effect on other variables. By altering this variable, researchers aim to determine how it influences the dependent variable, which is the one being measured. For instance, if a scientist is testing the impact of different amounts of sunlight on plant growth, the amount of sunlight is the independent variable because it is what the researcher controls or varies during the experiment. Understanding the role of the independent variable is crucial for establishing cause-and-effect relationships within scientific studies.

In an experiment, the independent variable represents the factor that the researcher intentionally changes or manipulates to observe its effect on other variables. By altering this variable, researchers aim to determine how it influences the dependent variable, which is the one being measured. For instance, if a scientist is testing the impact of different amounts of sunlight on plant growth, the amount of sunlight is the independent variable because it is what the researcher controls or varies during the experiment. Understanding the role of the independent variable is crucial for establishing cause-and-effect relationships within scientific studies.