By using ThoughtCo, you accept our, What Is an Experiment? The dependent variable (sometimes known as the responding variable) is what is being studied and measured in the experiment. The independent variable is usually applied at different levels to see how the outcome differs. An example of a dependent variable is how tall you are at different ages. If you measure the effect of temperature on flower color, temperature is the independent variable—the one you manipulate—while the color of the flower is the dependent variable. Sometimes the dependent variable is called the "responding variable." You can apply just two levels (e.g. A dependent variable is the variable being tested in a scientific experiment. The dependent variable is the condition that you measure in an experiment. ThoughtCo uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. What Is the Difference Between Independent and Dependent Variables? A dependent variable is a measured human behavior. What Are the Elements of a Good Hypothesis. Another example of a dependent variable is a test score. The. Note that in a good experiment, you'd want to choose a stress you could control and quantify. You are assessing how it responds to a change in the independent variable, so you can think of it as depending on the independent variable. Definition and Design, The Differences Between Explanatory and Response Variables. Accuracy is often reported as the percentage of trials … Usually, the sentence won't make sense if you get them wrong. As the experimenter changes the independent variable, the change in the dependent variable is observed and recorded. To perform an experiment, you would provide stress and measure the subject's heartbeat. Your independent variable is the stress, while the dependent variable would be the heart rate. You want to know whether or not stress affects heart rate. What Is the Difference Between Independent and Dependent Variables? The dependent variable gets its name from the fact that it depends on the independent variable. You might be tempted to identify time or height as your variable, not the rate of growth (distance per time). A dependent variable is the variable being tested in a scientific experiment. The child can measure … You can use the DRY MIX acronym to remember this: D - dependent variableR - responds to changeY - Y-axis, M - manipulated variable (one you change)I - independent variableX - X-axis. For the pinewood derby car, the time it takes the car to go down the ramp is the measurable, dependent variable. Vous évaluez la façon dont il répond à un changement de la variable indépendante, de sorte que vous pouvez considérer comme en fonction de la variable indépendante. Start by thinking about what you are controlling and what you will be measuring. Dr. Helmenstine holds a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences and is a science writer, educator, and consultant. If you change one variable, which is affected? The Role of a Controlled Variable in an Experiment, Understanding Simple vs Controlled Experiments, Distinguishing Between Dependent and Independent Variables, Ph.D., Biomedical Sciences, University of Tennessee at Knoxville, B.A., Physics and Mathematics, Hastings College, A scientist is testing the effect of light and dark on the behavior of moths by turning a light on and off. Todd Helmenstine is a science writer and illustrator who has taught physics and math at the college level. What Are the Elements of a Good Hypothesis? The rate of growth is the dependent variable. The (independent variable) causes a change in the (dependent variable). It's what changes as a result of the changes to the independent variable. By using ThoughtCo, you accept our, Dependent Variable Definition and Examples. Dependent Variable. A change in the independent variable (amount of light) directly causes a change in the dependent variable (moth behavior). 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