Question

how do researchers change variables?

Answer 1

A variable is anything that can vary, i.e. changed or be changed, such as memory, attention, time taken to perform a task, etc. Variable are given a special name that only applies to experimental investigations. One is called the dependent variable and the other the independent variable.

In an experiment, the researcher is looking for the possible effect on the dependent variable that might be caused by changing the independent variable.

There are many types of variable but the most important, for the vast majority of research methods, are the independent and dependent variables.

• Independent variable (IV): Variable the experimenter manipulates (i.e. changes) – assumed to have a direct effect on the dependent variable.

• Dependent variable (DV): Variable the experimenter measures, after making changes to the IV that are assumed to affect the DV.

Converting Research Variables Into Constants

Ensuring that certain research variables are controlled increases the reliability and validity of the experiment, by ensuring that other causal effects are eliminated. This safeguard makes it easier for other researchers to repeat the experiment and comprehensively test the results.

What you are trying to do, in your scientific design, is to change most of the variables into constants, isolating the independent variable. Any scientific research does contain an element of compromise and inbuilt error, but eliminating other variables will ensure that the results are robust and valid.