Chat with our AI personalities
Not necessarily. The independent variable may have no effect at all.
The independent variable represents the input or causes, or are tested to see if they are the cause.
Cause. The IV is what the experimenter changes, the DV is the result.
Cause and effect
Yes. The presumed cause is the independent variable and the presumed effect is the dependent varibale. Variablility in the dependent variable is presumed to depend on variablility in the independent variables. It is used more of a direction of influence rather than a cause and effect scenario. Ex. need for increased assistance is dependent on decrease in health. Health is the independent variable and assistance is the dependent.