Independent Variable (definition, characteristics and design)

The independent variable, is the property that is the cause of a certain phenomenon studied. This term is one of the most used in scientific research to be able to indicate the variable that manipulates a researcher in an experiment in order to carry out a study on the incidence of the expression of the dependent variable.

Is variable It is also known by the name of explanatory variable and the clerk like explained variable, which means that the variations of this variable affect the variants of the dependent variable.

It is a phenomenon that evaluates the capacity that affects, influences or affects other types of variables, because it does not depend on something to be present. Therefore, it is a characteristic that possibly causes the phenomenon to be studied.

The amount of variables that are incorporated into an investigation will depend on the purpose it has the study that is defined by the researcher who carries it out and also the phenomenon to be study. Of course, the more independent variables are included, the result will have a better explanation in the changes of the dependent variable.

Characteristics of the independent variable

Among the large amount of information that can be mentioned about this property, there are a series of characteristics such as those that will be mentioned below:

• When used within the field of mathematics or statistics, it should be represented by the letter X.
• It is a property that always develops on the abscissa axis.
• In the same way, it is referred to in other sectors as manipulated variable.
• It is well known for its assignment of arbitrary values.
• In it, the control variables can be incorporated, which can modify the rest of the independent ones and at the same time alter a result that is peaceful.

Possible complexities of the independent variable

This term is sometimes a source of confusion, due to the assumption that its name comes from the variable that is independent for any type of manipulation.

Its name refers to the fact that the variable is isolated from some other factor, which allows a possible experimental manipulation that establishes results that can be analyzed. In certain research articles, the contribution of various results appears through the manipulation of other experimental variables, however, this may be wrong.

There is the possibility that each manipulated variable is itself an experiment, where an area where the words are found Research and experiment may differ, since it is better for the researcher to unify them in a single objective and discuss the results in general form.

Differences between independent variable and dependent variable

There are a lot of differences between these variables, some of them are:

• The independent variables make changes that can determine certain changes in the values ​​of the dependent variable, while it depends on the value added by other phenomena independent.
• Both variables are the most influential in the development of an experiment.
• The independent variable is the one that you can control and change within a scientific experiment in order to check any effect on the dependent variable.
• The dependent variable totally depends on the independent variable. This is because the researcher can make changes in the independent to observe and make the appropriate records on the effect on the dependent.
• These two variables can be seen in the termination of cause and effect. If the independent generates changes, it may have an effect on the dependent. Therefore, their values ​​may have changes within the experiment before being recorded.
• An important difference is that the value of the independent variable can be controlled by the researcher, unlike the value of the dependent variable that can only change as a response to the independent one.

Examples of the independent variable

You can find multiple examples in relation to this term, of which some will be mentioned, such as the following:

• The value of a taxi trip, the dependent variable is made because of the time it takes for the trip, which would be the independent variable.
• The cost that is paid for some apples, the dependent variable will have to depend on the kilograms of apples that are bought, which will be the dependent variable.

Importance of the identification of independent and dependent variables

The identification of both variables is very important for the following reasons:

• They usually provide a direct focus on the project to be investigated.
• They constitute the main terms that are used during the development of the investigation to later carry out the corresponding review.
• They are terms that define in an operative way, if necessary, the definition of the basic terms.
• They facilitate the vision towards the section of different methods.
• It is a tool that has the ability to measure both variables.
• They must be measured and managed directly for the research to be more valid.

Design of the identification of variables

Once the variables are identified, it is necessary for the researcher to identify how to address all these variables, as part of the core of the research design. Among the designs are:

Descriptive

It is responsible for describing the updated state of the variables, it is a study that develops the knowledge of the investigation.

Causal comparative

Examines the effectiveness of the variable that cannot be manipulated in other variables, the factor To identify causal comparative research, it must be compared with two or more variables different.

Correlational

This describes the relationship that exists between the variables, its study must be carried out between two or more variables that contain continuous values.

Experimental

It examines the effectiveness of the variable when being manipulated over others by the researcher.