What is an independent variable?

An independent variable is defined as the variable that is manipulated or changed by the researcher in an experiment to observe how it affects other variables. This manipulation allows researchers to establish a cause-and-effect relationship between the independent variable and the dependent variable, which is the outcome measured in the study.

For example, if a researcher is studying the impact of different study techniques on test performance, the study techniques would be the independent variable. By varying the techniques used, the researcher can assess how these changes influence the test scores, which is the dependent variable.

Understanding the role of the independent variable is crucial for designing experiments and interpreting results, as it directly reflects how changes in one aspect of the study can lead to variations in another. The other options refer to the dependent variable (observed outcome), controlled variables (constants in the experiment), and the outcome indicator, but they do not accurately describe the function of the independent variable.