Understanding Variables And Function
Understanding Variables and Relationships Independent Variable: This is the variable that the researcher manipulates or changes to see its impact on another variable. It's often considered the "cause" in a cause-and-effect relationship. Dependent Variable: This is the variable that is being measured or observed to see if it's affected by the independent variable. It's often considered the "effect" in a cause-and-effect relationship. Functional Relationship: This refers to the systematic way in which the dependent variable changes in response to changes in the independent variable. It can be positive (as one increases, the other increases), negative (as one increases, the other decreases), or more complex. Correlation vs. Causation: It's important to distinguish between correlation (variables changing together) and causation (one variable directly causing a change in the other). While correlation can suggest a relationship, it doesn't necessar...