Which variable is manipulated during an experiment to observe its effect?

In an experiment, the variable that is manipulated to observe its effects on other variables is known as the independent variable. This is the factor that researchers change to test its impact on dependent variables, which are measured in the experiment. By adjusting the independent variable, scientists can determine whether changes in this variable lead to changes in other outcomes, thereby establishing cause-and-effect relationships.

For instance, if a researcher wants to study the effect of temperature on plant growth, they would manipulate the temperature (the independent variable) to see how it influences the growth of the plants (the dependent variable). This approach is fundamental in experimental design, as it allows for systematic investigation of how different conditions affect results.

In contrast, other types of variables play different roles; control variables are kept constant to minimize their influence on the outcome, while dependent variables are those being measured to see how they respond to changes in the independent variable. The term "result variable" is not commonly used in scientific methodology. Thus, recognizing the independent variable as the manipulated factor is crucial for understanding experimental processes.