Experiments involve manipulations of conditions or factors. These are the independent variables. The purpose of the experiment is usually to see what effect an independent variable has on the dependent variable, or to see what effect the experimenter's manipulation has on subjects'behavior. Dependent variables . The type of response required in the experiment is usually the dependent variable.
Studies can have more than one dependent variable, but simple experiments usually have only one.
For example, ratings on a 7-point scale is a dependent measure, as is the number of words recalled. Dependent variables are not manipulated, but experimenters can translatethe data in a variety of ways. It is important to attend to the nature of the dependent variable because it defines the data that are observed. Question what effect the dependent measure has on the data and conclusions. Often memory or reading level or familiarity with the testing experience can affect a dependent measure.