What is an independent and dependent variable? Please give a definition and example.

http://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/help/user_guide/graph/variables.asp

http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_variables.shtml

ok thank you!

You're welcome.

An independent variable is a variable that is deliberately manipulated or controlled by the experimenter. It is the variable that is believed to have a direct effect on the dependent variable. The dependent variable, on the other hand, is the variable that is measured or observed in response to changes in the independent variable. It is the variable that researchers are interested in understanding or predicting.

To understand this concept, let's consider an example. Suppose a researcher wants to investigate the effect of studying time on test scores. In this case, the independent variable would be the studying time. The researcher can control and manipulate the studying time of each participant. The dependent variable, in this case, would be the test scores. The researcher will measure and observe the test scores of each participant.

By manipulating the independent variable (studying time), the researcher can measure and observe any changes in the dependent variable (test scores). This allows the researcher to examine the relationship between the two variables and understand if there is a cause-effect relationship. For example, the researcher might find that increased studying time leads to higher test scores, indicating a positive relationship between the independent variable (studying time) and the dependent variable (test scores).