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Background: When conducting experiments, one needs to deal with variables, those factors or elements that are likely to vary or change. A typical study has an independent variable and a dependent variable.
Let's say you wish to learn which type of fertilizer will make your plants grow the tallest. You have fertilizer A, B, and C. The independent variable is the type of fertilizer. The flowers with no fertilizer are the control group.
Data Table
Data Table
The independent variable is on the left side of a data table. The trials and the averages are the dependent variable, or results.
The independent (or manipulated) variable is something that the experimenter purposely changes or varies over the course of the investigation. In this case the experimenter is changing the type of fertilizer.
The dependent (or responding) variable is the one that is observed and likely changes in response to the independent variable. The dependent variable is the height of the flower.
When conducting an experiment, all other variables must be kept the same throughout the investigation; they should be controlled. The variables that are not changed are called controlled variables. These variables are kept constant. In the plant study, all flowers should get the same amount of water, the same amount of light and should also be kept at the same temperature.
In an experiment, subjects that are exposed to the independent variable is called the experimental group. The experimental group is also sometimes called the treatment group.
The control group is the subjects that are not exposed to the independent variable. The control group is unmodified. It is left in its normal state. (Do not confuse controlled variables with the control group.) The control group used in an experiment for comparison purposes. The flowers that did not receive fertilizer would be the control group.
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