© Elly Thorsen
2021
Independent
and Dependent
Variables
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©
Elly
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2021
What are variables?
•Variables are the parts
in experiments that are
likely to change.
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©
Elly
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2021
What are variables?
• Experiments have three
types of variables:
• Independent variables
• Dependent variables
• Controlled variables
(constants)
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©
Elly
Thors
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2021
What do you think
makes the
variables different
from each other?
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©
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2021
Understanding
independent
variables and
dependent variables
is very important for
understanding the
scientific method.
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What is an
©
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independent
variable?
• An independent variable is
the variable that is changed
by a scientist in an
experiment.
• Scientists make
experiments using
independent variables.
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[Link]
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What is a
©
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dependent
variable?
• A dependent variable is what
is measured by a scientist in
an experiment.
• Scientists determine the
experiment outcome with
the dependent variable.
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©
How can you tell the
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variables apart?
• To tell the variables apart, ask
yourself these questions:
• What is being changed on
purpose? This is the
independent variable.
• What is being measured
throughout or at the end of
the experiment? This is the
dependent variable. © Elly Thorsen 2021
[Link]
y-Thorsen
©
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Variable
Summary:
•Independent = change
•Dependent = measure
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Determine the IV and
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DV in this scientific
question:
Does the amount of
sunlight a plant receives
affect the plant’s height?
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Determine the IV and
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DV in this scientific
question:
Are people more positive
when they have nine
hours of sleep at night?
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Answers
Does the amount of sunlight a
plant receives affect the plant’s
height?
IV: amount of sunlight
DV: plant height
Are people more positive when
they have nine hours of sleep at
night?
IV: amount of sleep
DV: positivity
