Which term describes the independent variable being manipulated in an experiment?

Which term describes the independent variable being manipulated in an experiment?

• A. Dependent variable
• B. Factor
• C. Levels
• D. Treatment

Answer: (B)

The key idea is the variable you actively change to see if it causes a different outcome. In experimental design, that manipulable variable is called a factor. Each distinct value or condition of that factor is a level. For example, if you’re testing how caffeine affects reaction time, the factor is caffeine dose, and the levels might be 0 mg, 50 mg, and 100 mg. The outcome you measure is the dependent variable (reaction time). While “treatment” is sometimes used to describe an experimental condition, the standard term for the manipulated variable is factor.

The key idea is the variable you actively change to see if it causes a different outcome. In experimental design, that manipulable variable is called a factor. Each distinct value or condition of that factor is a level. For example, if you’re testing how caffeine affects reaction time, the factor is caffeine dose, and the levels might be 0 mg, 50 mg, and 100 mg. The outcome you measure is the dependent variable (reaction time). While “treatment” is sometimes used to describe an experimental condition, the standard term for the manipulated variable is factor.