what is experiment iv about

The Meaning Behind The Song: Experiment Iv by Kate Bush

The Meaning Behind The Song: Experiment IV by Kate Bush

The song “Experiment IV” by Kate Bush holds a deep and intriguing meaning that captivates listeners with its thought-provoking lyrics and haunting melody. Released in 1986 as a single, the song delves into the realm of science, power, and the consequences of technology. Let us unravel the layers of this fascinating composition and explore the hidden messages within.

Table of Contents

The Consequences of Uncontrolled Scientific Experimentation

At its core, “Experiment IV” presents a cautionary tale about the perils of unchecked scientific experimentation. The lyrics portray a fictional scenario where a group of scientists is commissioned to create a sound weapon capable of causing intense fear and panic. As the experiment progresses, the consequences become evident, revealing the destructive nature of the weapon.

The song opens a dialogue that questions the ethical boundaries of scientific pursuits, urging us to consider the potential ramifications of tampering with nature. It serves as a warning against the blind pursuit of power and the unforeseen consequences that may arise from such endeavors.

The Dark Side of Human Curiosity

Another theme that resonates through “Experiment IV” is the exploration of the dark side of human curiosity. It portrays a society driven by power and an insatiable thirst for knowledge without regard for the potential harm it may cause. It highlights humanity’s tendency to push boundaries, often at the expense of ethical considerations.

Through the lyrics, Kate Bush emphasizes the importance of balance and responsibility in our pursuit of knowledge. The song calls for a critical examination of the morality behind scientific and technological advancements, reminding us to question the potential consequences of our actions.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. what inspired kate bush to write “experiment iv”.

Kate Bush drew inspiration for “Experiment IV” from her concern about the destructive influence of scientific advancements and the potential dangers of unchecked experimentation.

2. Has “Experiment IV” received critical acclaim?

Yes, the song received positive reviews upon its release and has remained a fan favorite throughout the years. It showcases Kate Bush’s artistic brilliance and ability to tackle complex themes in her music.

3. Is “Experiment IV” based on a true story?

No, “Experiment IV” is a work of fiction created by Kate Bush. It serves as a cautionary tale and a reflection on the potential consequences of uncontrolled scientific experimentation.

4. Are there any specific influences on the song?

While no specific influences are commonly attributed to “Experiment IV,” it showcases Kate Bush’s unique style and her ability to infuse her music with thought-provoking themes.

5. Can “Experiment IV” be interpreted metaphorically?

Yes, many listeners interpret the song metaphorically, seeing it as a commentary on the dangers of political manipulation, the suppression of creative expression, and the perils of embracing power without consideration for the consequences.

6. Did “Experiment IV” achieve commercial success?

Although “Experiment IV” did not reach the same level of commercial success as some of Kate Bush’s previous hits, it performed well on the charts and solidified her reputation as a versatile and introspective artist.

7. Has Kate Bush ever performed “Experiment IV” live?

Kate Bush has rarely performed “Experiment IV” live. It has been included in a few of her concerts and live recordings, but it remains a relatively rare occurrence in her repertoire.

8. Are there any cover versions of “Experiment IV”?

While there are no widely known cover versions of “Experiment IV,” the song has inspired and influenced numerous artists who appreciate its unique style and thought-provoking lyrics.

9. What impact did “Experiment IV” have on Kate Bush’s career?

“Experiment IV” further established Kate Bush’s reputation as a boundary-pushing artist unafraid to tackle intricate and societal themes in her music. It showcased her versatility and songwriting prowess.

10. How does “Experiment IV” fit into Kate Bush’s discography?

“Experiment IV” stands out as a bold and unique entry in Kate Bush’s discography. It presents a departure from her more introspective and personal songs, highlighting her ability to explore diverse musical and thematic territories.

11. What emotions does “Experiment IV” evoke?

“Experiment IV” evokes a sense of unease, curiosity, and contemplation. Its haunting melody, accompanied by eerie lyrics, creates a haunting atmosphere that resonates deeply with listeners.

12. Is there any symbolism in the music video for “Experiment IV”?

The music video for “Experiment IV” incorporates symbolism through haunting visuals and references to the potential dangers of technology and scientific experimentation. It adds another layer to the song’s already impactful message.

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Experiment IV by Kate Bush

Songfacts®:

• This song is about how sometimes scientists get so caught up in the pure science of what they are developing that they don't realize what purpose others may have for it. For example,when scientists started splitting atoms they probably did not think of the possible future applications as weapons.
• The origin of this song came from Kate's consideration of music as such a beautiful thing and a positive force. The idea of something so beautiful being used to kill people was fascinating. There likely are sonic experiments of a similar type actually being carried out by militaries somewhere.
• The Whole Story is a greatest hits album. This was the only new song included with songs from previous albums. >> Suggestion credit : Lee - Ottawa, Canada, for all above
• The music video marks Bush's third directorial effort, following " Hounds Of Love " and " The Big Sky ." The clip tells the story of a sound monster that destroys a secret military facility. The singer makes a small cameo as an orderly serving tea, but several other recognizable faces show up, including actors Hugh Laurie, Peter Vaughan, Gary Oldman, and actress Dawn French, along with Bush's bass guitarist Del Palmer. Bush's brother Paddy also appears as a disturbed patient. The video was filmed at an abandoned military hospital near Blackheath that was allegedly co-designed by the iconic nurse Florence Nightingale. Bush recalled the experience in a 1987 fan club newsletter: "There were some wonderful moments, like filming in East London. We had a field full of 'dead bodies' who kept moving about to get more comfortable, so we had to shout out over a loud-hailer, 'Stop moving - You're supposed to be dead!'"
• A faux music shop was created for the video as a secret entrance to the facility. It was so realistic, Bush said, that passers-by kept popping in wanting to buy some of the instruments.
• Top Of The Pops refused to air the video because it was deemed too violent.
• The video was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Concept Music Video, but lost to Genesis' " Land of Confusion ."
• More songs from Kate Bush
• More songs about science
• More songs with famous people in the video
• More songs from 1986
• Lyrics to Experiment IV
• Kate Bush Artistfacts

Comments: 5

• Rod from Gainesville, Fl REMINDS me of the use of horrible musci to torment Noriega into surrendering when he was holed up under catholic church protection, or the use of loud music to induce sleep deprivation. LET me also hear pledge my eternal devotion to our Kate!
• Mikey from London, England This song is based on secret Government experiments during the 40's and 50's to develop a weapon that would play a sound that could kill someone from a far distance. According to rumours, the sound they discovered that could manage this was the sound of a woman's screams when she was just told that her baby had died.
• Leah from Brooklyn, Ny No longer science fiction, it's beginning to appear that the US Navy's experimental ocean broadcasts of special sonar to detect enemy submarines is killing whales and dolphins by the hundreds. The sea mammals are washing ashore, dying of hemmoraged brains. Of course, the Navy denies their sonar is responsible and refuses to stop the development and use. Sounds can already kill, and I've no doubt the military won't stop at sea mammals, with something so prospectively 'useful.' Do a web search using the words 'sonar' 'navy' and 'mammals' for more info.
• Andrew from Salem, Ma The video for this song stars well known British actors Peter Vaughan, Richard Vernon, Dawn French and Hugh Laurie, a traditon Kate began with Donald Sutherland for the 'Cloudbusting' video and continued with 'This Woman's Work, featuring Tim McInnerny.
• Andy from Hunterdon, Nj This "might" be a reference to Ayn Rand's "Atlas Shrugged" (written some 30+ years earlier). In that novel, the evil government engages a brilliant (but cowardly and immoral) theoretical scientist to develop technology that is then used to create a top-secret weapon nicknamed "The Xylophone". The "Xylophone" uses soundwaves to kill living things stationed at a far distance from the weapon.

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Experiment IV

Experiment iv lyrics.

The title "Experiment IV" brings to mind Nazi era practices.

'Experiment 4'

Some say that heaven is hell Some say that hell is heaven... (SIYL)

Adolf Hitler: ‘By means of shrewd lies, unremittingly repeated, it is possible to make people believe that heaven is hell - and hell, heaven ... The greater the lie, the more readily will it be believed’ (Mein Kampf).

It was '39, before the music started... (HWD)

Operation T-4 was a program in Nazi Germany, officially between 1939 and 1941, during which the regime of Adolf Hitler systematically killed between 200,000 to 250,000 people with intellectual or physical disabilities. The T4 program developed from the Nazi Party's policy of "racial hygiene," the belief that the German people needed to be "cleansed" of "racially unsound" elements, which included people with disabilities. The killing of patients in mental asylums and other institutions was carried out in secrecy. The Aktion T4 set important precedents for the later Holocaust of the Jews of Europe.

A picture of you, a picture of you in uniform Standing with your head held high Hot down to the floor But it couldn't be you It couldn't be you It's a picture of Hitler... (HWD)

'T-4' referred to "Tiergartenstrasse 4", the address of the Berlin Chancellery offices where the program was headquartered. Operation T-4 centers were places of brutal medical experiments and mass killings of unwanted people considered a burden to society.

Physicians, the most highly Nazified professional group in Germany, were key to the success of "T-4," since they organized and carried out nearly all aspects of the operation. One of Hitler's personal physicians, Dr. Karl Brandt, headed the program, along with Hitler's Chancellery chief, Philip Bouhler. (During the postwar 'Doctors Trial', Dr Karl Brandt and six others would be sentenced to death.) In the beginning, patients were killed by lethal injection. The damned were bussed to killing centers in Germany and Austria, walled-in fortresses, such as former psychiatric hospitals.

KB: "We filmed in an old disused hospital, and the conditions were very cold and damp, but everyone got very involved and we had a great time..."

By 1940, Hitler, on the advice of Dr. Werner Heyde, suggested that carbon monoxide gas be used as the preferred method of killing. Experimental gassings had first been carried out at Brandenburg Prison in 1939. There, gas chambers were disguised as showers complete with fake nozzles in order to deceive victims...

From the painful cries of mothers, To the terrifying scream...

Experiment IV is notable for featuring Nigel Kennedy on violin, who at one point replicates the screeching violins from Bernard Herrmann's famous scoring of the shower scene in Alfred Hitchcock's 1960 film Psycho (wiki).

This (musical) link between Experiment IV and Psycho is interesting because there seems to be a (narrative) link between Psycho and Mother Stands For Comfort.

Has KaTe got a thing for Alfred Hitchcock, Norman Bates, Hitler, psychopathology, and Nazi Uniforms 'Hot down to the floor'? ... The Night Porter (1974) ... Abuse Attachment? ... Identifying with the Aggressor? ... Compulsive Repetition?

At the start of the Experiment IV video, the shopkeeper of the disguised "Music For Pleasure" store is counting out fresh copies of Kate's newest single, 'Experiment IV'. The Professor is called Jerry Coe, an obvious pun on Jericho, whose walls came tumbling down at the sound of trumpets.

'Music for Pleasure' (or MFP) was a United Kingdom record label set up in 1965. 'Music for Pleasure' is also the name of the second album by the punk rock band The Damned. It was released on November 18, 1977 and produced by Nick Mason of Pink Floyd. The Damned is also the title of a 1969 film by Luchino Visconti, on the Nazi Party's rise to power in 1930's Germany.

It was music we were making here until...

The instruments on display in the 'fake' Music For Pleasure store include dijeridu, strumento da porco, balalaika, mandolin, trombone, and Kate's own Celtic harp and Babooshka bass viol... The KT Bush Band have obviously been making music! And Paddy has gone mad...

KB: "Paddy played the lunatic, and in every take his sounds were just as impressive as his visuals - I wish I'd put it onto tape. He literally "threw'' himself into the part, and the crew were so impressed they applauded him - a great accolade!"

In the Experiment IV video (1986), Paddy is seen strapped inside a straitjacket and screaming in a padded cell. The straitjacket reappears seven years later in the Rubberband Girl video (1993). In the Rubberband Girl video, Kate is seen dancing into a straitjacket and waving around like she's about to be sectioned or committed. Straitjackets are used to restrain people who may otherwise cause harm to themselves and others. Institutional straitjackets tend to be made of canvas or duck cloth for material strength. It is possible for one person to put a willing volunteer into a straitjacket, but it generally takes at least two people to jacket a struggling person.

During the Experiment IV, the sound wave causes a ghostly apparition of a mermaid with long blonde hair (Kate Bush) to be generated. The mermaid flies around the experimental subject (Del Palmer). Then, with a kiss, the mermaid transmogrifies into a nightmarish ghoul-like spectre.

A mermaid is a legendary aquatic creature with the head and torso of human female and the tail of a fish. Much like sirens, mermaids would sometimes sing to sailors and enchant them, distracting them from their work and causing them to walk off the deck or cause shipwrecks. Other stories would have them squeeze the life out of drowning men while trying to rescue them. They are also said to take them down to their underwater kingdoms, forgetting that humans cannot breathe underwater, while others say they drown men out of spite. The Sirens of Greek mythology are sometimes portrayed in later folklore as mermaids.

The Experiment IV mermaid gets out and causes everyone around to drop down dead. The video ends with the 'music shop' vicinity cordoned off and 'PROHIBITED' like an outbreak of foot and mouth. At the end of the song a helicopter is heard (the very same helicopter sound heard in Pink Floyd's The Happiest Days of our Lives from their 1979 album, The Wall). At the end of the video, KaTe escapes disguised as a hitch hiker, and invites us to keep her little secret. But her wink at the end is as deadly as the mermaid's kiss. The weirdness is out! ... "But that dream is your enemy!"

The video is vampish, ghoulish, witchy, and hints at B-movies, such as Deadly Strangers (1974) and Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978).

And the public are warned to stay off...

Also, as early as the 1880s, Nikola Tesla began working on harmonic vibrations. Tesla understood that the cosmic symphony is resonance. Nothing exists in the Universe that does not have harmonic vibration. Tesla even designed a small machine that you could attach to a building and it would bring the building down in a matter of hours...

Another one of my favourite Kate Bush songs and a great video too which has Hugh Laurie and Dawn French in.

Clearly this is about the powers that be (See Army Dreamers and Breathing) doing bad things again. This time they have taken something beautiful and creative like music which is meant for pleasure - and turned it into a weapon that can kill.

However - having something so extreme - which could make you feel like falling in love etc - will end up killing you. So like be warying of helping the government and anyone who wants to distort the good things in life because it will end up costing your own life. The experiment goes wrong but the guys at the top will get away without being harmed.

I guess music can be a metaphor for people generally. A child is usually innocent but bad parenting or/and government propaganda can turn that child into a criminal or a soldier propping corrupt regimes. They can do violence onto others. Basically you reap what you sow.

Experiment IV

Experiment iv lyrics.

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The song tells a story about a secret military plan to create a sound that is horrific enough to kill people. The ending of the story is unclear, but in the music video nearly every person working on the project is killed by the horrific sound.

Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning

• 1. Running Up That Hill (Extended 12" Inch)
• 2. The Big Sky (Meteorological Mix)
• 3. Cloudbusting (The Orgonon Mix)
• 4. Hounds of Love (Alternative Mix)
• 5. Experiment IV (Extended Mix)
• 6. Walk Straight Down the Middle
• 7. You Want Alchemy
• 8. Be Kind to My Mistakes
• 10. Under the Ivy
• 11. Experiment IV
• 12. Ne T’enfuis Pas
• 13. Un Baiser D’enfant
• 14. Burning Bridge
• 15. Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God) [2012 Remix]
• 16. Home for Christmas
• 17. One Last Look Around the House Before We Go...
• 18. I’m Still Waiting
• 19. Warm and Soothing
• 20. Show a Little Devotion
• 21. Passing Through Air
• 22. Humming
• 23. Ran Tan Waltz
• 24. December Will Be Magic Again
• 25. Wuthering Heights (New Vocal)
• 26. Rocket Man
• 27. Sexual Healing
• 28. Mna ná hEireann
• 29. My Lagan Love
• 30. The Man I Love
• 31. Brazil (Sam Lowry’s first dream)
• 32. The Handsome Cabin Boy
• 33. Lord of the Reedy River
• 34. Candle in the Wind

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Independent Variables in Psychology

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• Identifying

Potential Pitfalls

The independent variable (IV) in psychology is the characteristic of an experiment that is manipulated or changed by researchers, not by other variables in the experiment.

For example, in an experiment looking at the effects of studying on test scores, studying would be the independent variable. Researchers are trying to determine if changes to the independent variable (studying) result in significant changes to the dependent variable (the test results).

In general, experiments have these three types of variables: independent, dependent, and controlled.

Identifying the Independent Variable

If you are having trouble identifying the independent variables of an experiment, there are some questions that may help:

• Is the variable one that is being manipulated by the experimenters?
• Are researchers trying to identify how the variable influences another variable?
• Is the variable something that cannot be changed but that is not dependent on other variables in the experiment?

Researchers are interested in investigating the effects of the independent variable on other variables, which are known as dependent variables (DV). The independent variable is one that the researchers either manipulate (such as the amount of something) or that already exists but is not dependent upon other variables (such as the age of the participants).

Below are the key differences when looking at an independent variable vs. dependent variable.

Expected to influence the dependent variable

Doesn't change as a result of the experiment

Can be manipulated by researchers in order to study the dependent variable

Expected to be affected by the independent variable

Expected to change as a result of the experiment

Not manipulated by researchers; its changes occur as a result of the independent variable

There can be all different types of independent variables. The independent variables in a particular experiment all depend on the hypothesis and what the experimenters are investigating.

Independent variables also have different levels. In some experiments, there may only be one level of an IV. In other cases, multiple levels of the IV may be used to look at the range of effects that the variable may have.

In an experiment on the effects of the type of diet on weight loss, for example, researchers might look at several different types of diet. Each type of diet that the experimenters look at would be a different level of the independent variable while weight loss would always be the dependent variable.

To understand this concept, it's helpful to take a look at the independent variable in research examples.

In Organizations

A researcher wants to determine if the color of an office has any effect on worker productivity. In an experiment, one group of workers performs a task in a yellow room while another performs the same task in a blue room. In this example, the color of the office is the independent variable.

In the Workplace

A business wants to determine if giving employees more control over how to do their work leads to increased job satisfaction. In an experiment, one group of workers is given a great deal of input in how they perform their work, while the other group is not. The amount of input the workers have over their work is the independent variable in this example.

In Educational Research

Educators are interested in whether participating in after-school math tutoring can increase scores on standardized math exams. In an experiment, one group of students attends an after-school tutoring session twice a week while another group of students does not receive this additional assistance. In this case, participation in after-school math tutoring is the independent variable.

In Mental Health Research

Researchers want to determine if a new type of treatment will lead to a reduction in anxiety for patients living with social phobia. In an experiment, some volunteers receive the new treatment, another group receives a different treatment, and a third group receives no treatment. The independent variable in this example is the type of therapy .

Sometimes varying the independent variables will result in changes in the dependent variables. In other cases, researchers might find that changes in the independent variables have no effect on the variables that are being measured.

At the outset of an experiment, it is important for researchers to operationally define the independent variable. An operational definition describes exactly what the independent variable is and how it is measured. Doing this helps ensure that the experiments know exactly what they are looking at or manipulating, allowing them to measure it and determine if it is the IV that is causing changes in the DV.

Choosing an Independent Variable

If you are designing an experiment, here are a few tips for choosing an independent variable (or variables):

• Select independent variables that you think will cause changes in another variable. Come up with a hypothesis for what you expect to happen.
• Look at other experiments for examples and identify different types of independent variables.
• Keep your control group and experimental groups similar in other characteristics, but vary only the treatment they receive in terms of the independent variable.   For example, your control group will receive either no treatment or no changes in the independent variable while your experimental group will receive the treatment or a different level of the independent variable.

It is also important to be aware that there may be other variables that might influence the results of an experiment. Two other kinds of variables that might influence the outcome include:

• Extraneous variables : These are variables that might affect the relationships between the independent variable and the dependent variable; experimenters usually try to identify and control for these variables. 
• Confounding variables : When an extraneous variable cannot be controlled for in an experiment, it is known as a confounding variable . 

Extraneous variables can also include demand characteristics (which are clues about how the participants should respond) and experimenter effects (which is when the researchers accidentally provide clues about how a participant will respond).

Kaliyadan F, Kulkarni V. Types of variables, descriptive statistics, and sample size .  Indian Dermatol Online J . 2019;10(1):82-86. doi:10.4103/idoj.IDOJ_468_18

Weiten, W. Psychology: Themes and Variations, 10th ed . Boston, MA: Cengage Learning; 2017.

National Library of Medicine. Dependent and independent variables .

By Kendra Cherry, MSEd Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."

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Methodology

• Independent vs. Dependent Variables | Definition & Examples

Independent vs. Dependent Variables | Definition & Examples

Published on February 3, 2022 by Pritha Bhandari . Revised on June 22, 2023.

In research, variables are any characteristics that can take on different values, such as height, age, temperature, or test scores.

Researchers often manipulate or measure independent and dependent variables in studies to test cause-and-effect relationships.

• The independent variable is the cause. Its value is independent of other variables in your study.
• The dependent variable is the effect. Its value depends on changes in the independent variable.

Your independent variable is the temperature of the room. You vary the room temperature by making it cooler for half the participants, and warmer for the other half.

Table of contents

What is an independent variable, types of independent variables, what is a dependent variable, identifying independent vs. dependent variables, independent and dependent variables in research, visualizing independent and dependent variables, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about independent and dependent variables.

An independent variable is the variable you manipulate or vary in an experimental study to explore its effects. It’s called “independent” because it’s not influenced by any other variables in the study.

Independent variables are also called:

• Explanatory variables (they explain an event or outcome)
• Predictor variables (they can be used to predict the value of a dependent variable)
• Right-hand-side variables (they appear on the right-hand side of a regression equation).

These terms are especially used in statistics , where you estimate the extent to which an independent variable change can explain or predict changes in the dependent variable.

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There are two main types of independent variables.

• Experimental independent variables can be directly manipulated by researchers.
• Subject variables cannot be manipulated by researchers, but they can be used to group research subjects categorically.

Experimental variables

In experiments, you manipulate independent variables directly to see how they affect your dependent variable. The independent variable is usually applied at different levels to see how the outcomes differ.

You can apply just two levels in order to find out if an independent variable has an effect at all.

You can also apply multiple levels to find out how the independent variable affects the dependent variable.

You have three independent variable levels, and each group gets a different level of treatment.

You randomly assign your patients to one of the three groups:

• A low-dose experimental group
• A high-dose experimental group
• A placebo group (to research a possible placebo effect )

A true experiment requires you to randomly assign different levels of an independent variable to your participants.

Random assignment helps you control participant characteristics, so that they don’t affect your experimental results. This helps you to have confidence that your dependent variable results come solely from the independent variable manipulation.

Subject variables

Subject variables are characteristics that vary across participants, and they can’t be manipulated by researchers. For example, gender identity, ethnicity, race, income, and education are all important subject variables that social researchers treat as independent variables.

It’s not possible to randomly assign these to participants, since these are characteristics of already existing groups. Instead, you can create a research design where you compare the outcomes of groups of participants with characteristics. This is a quasi-experimental design because there’s no random assignment. Note that any research methods that use non-random assignment are at risk for research biases like selection bias and sampling bias .

Your independent variable is a subject variable, namely the gender identity of the participants. You have three groups: men, women and other.

Your dependent variable is the brain activity response to hearing infant cries. You record brain activity with fMRI scans when participants hear infant cries without their awareness.

A dependent variable is the variable that changes as a result of the independent variable manipulation. It’s the outcome you’re interested in measuring, and it “depends” on your independent variable.

In statistics , dependent variables are also called:

• Response variables (they respond to a change in another variable)
• Outcome variables (they represent the outcome you want to measure)
• Left-hand-side variables (they appear on the left-hand side of a regression equation)

The dependent variable is what you record after you’ve manipulated the independent variable. You use this measurement data to check whether and to what extent your independent variable influences the dependent variable by conducting statistical analyses.

Based on your findings, you can estimate the degree to which your independent variable variation drives changes in your dependent variable. You can also predict how much your dependent variable will change as a result of variation in the independent variable.

Distinguishing between independent and dependent variables can be tricky when designing a complex study or reading an academic research paper .

A dependent variable from one study can be the independent variable in another study, so it’s important to pay attention to research design .

Here are some tips for identifying each variable type.

Recognizing independent variables

Use this list of questions to check whether you’re dealing with an independent variable:

• Is the variable manipulated, controlled, or used as a subject grouping method by the researcher?
• Does this variable come before the other variable in time?
• Is the researcher trying to understand whether or how this variable affects another variable?

Recognizing dependent variables

Check whether you’re dealing with a dependent variable:

• Is this variable measured as an outcome of the study?
• Is this variable dependent on another variable in the study?
• Does this variable get measured only after other variables are altered?

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Independent and dependent variables are generally used in experimental and quasi-experimental research.

Here are some examples of research questions and corresponding independent and dependent variables.

For experimental data, you analyze your results by generating descriptive statistics and visualizing your findings. Then, you select an appropriate statistical test to test your hypothesis .

The type of test is determined by:

• your variable types
• level of measurement
• number of independent variable levels.

You’ll often use t tests or ANOVAs to analyze your data and answer your research questions.

In quantitative research , it’s good practice to use charts or graphs to visualize the results of studies. Generally, the independent variable goes on the x -axis (horizontal) and the dependent variable on the y -axis (vertical).

The type of visualization you use depends on the variable types in your research questions:

• A bar chart is ideal when you have a categorical independent variable.
• A scatter plot or line graph is best when your independent and dependent variables are both quantitative.

To inspect your data, you place your independent variable of treatment level on the x -axis and the dependent variable of blood pressure on the y -axis.

You plot bars for each treatment group before and after the treatment to show the difference in blood pressure.

If you want to know more about statistics , methodology , or research bias , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

• Normal distribution
• Degrees of freedom
• Null hypothesis
• Discourse analysis
• Control groups
• Mixed methods research
• Non-probability sampling
• Quantitative research
• Ecological validity

Research bias

• Rosenthal effect
• Implicit bias
• Cognitive bias
• Selection bias
• Negativity bias
• Status quo bias

An independent variable is the variable you manipulate, control, or vary in an experimental study to explore its effects. It’s called “independent” because it’s not influenced by any other variables in the study.

A dependent variable is what changes as a result of the independent variable manipulation in experiments . It’s what you’re interested in measuring, and it “depends” on your independent variable.

In statistics, dependent variables are also called:

Determining cause and effect is one of the most important parts of scientific research. It’s essential to know which is the cause – the independent variable – and which is the effect – the dependent variable.

You want to find out how blood sugar levels are affected by drinking diet soda and regular soda, so you conduct an experiment .

• The type of soda – diet or regular – is the independent variable .
• The level of blood sugar that you measure is the dependent variable – it changes depending on the type of soda.

No. The value of a dependent variable depends on an independent variable, so a variable cannot be both independent and dependent at the same time. It must be either the cause or the effect, not both!

Yes, but including more than one of either type requires multiple research questions .

For example, if you are interested in the effect of a diet on health, you can use multiple measures of health: blood sugar, blood pressure, weight, pulse, and many more. Each of these is its own dependent variable with its own research question.

You could also choose to look at the effect of exercise levels as well as diet, or even the additional effect of the two combined. Each of these is a separate independent variable .

To ensure the internal validity of an experiment , you should only change one independent variable at a time.

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What Are Dependent, Independent & Controlled Variables?

What Is a Responding Variable in Science Projects?

Say you're in lab, and your teacher asks you to design an experiment. The experiment must test how plants grow in response to different colored light. How would you begin? What are you changing? What are you keeping the same? What are you measuring?

These parameters of what you would change and what you would keep the same are called variables. Take a look at how all of these parameters in an experiment are defined, as independent, dependent and controlled variables.

What Is a Variable?

A variable is any quantity that you are able to measure in some way. This could be temperature, height, age, etc. Basically, a variable is anything that contributes to the outcome or result of your experiment in any way.

In an experiment there are multiple kinds of variables: independent, dependent and controlled variables.

What Is an Independent Variable?

An independent variable is the variable the experimenter controls. Basically, it is the component you choose to change in an experiment. This variable is not dependent on any other variables.

For example, in the plant growth experiment, the independent variable is the light color. The light color is not affected by anything. You will choose different light colors like green, red, yellow, etc. You are not measuring the light.

What Is a Dependent Variable?

A dependent variable is the measurement that changes in response to what you changed in the experiment. This variable is dependent on other variables; hence the name! For example, in the plant growth experiment, the dependent variable would be plant growth.

You could measure this by measuring how much the plant grows every two days. You could also measure it by measuring the rate of photosynthesis. Either of these measurements are dependent upon the kind of light you give the plant.

What Are Controlled Variables?

A control variable in science is any other parameter affecting your experiment that you try to keep the same across all conditions.

For example, one control variable in the plant growth experiment could be temperature. You would not want to have one plant growing in green light with a temperature of 20°C while another plant grows in red light with a temperature of 27°C.

You want to measure only the effect of light, not temperature. For this reason you would want to keep the temperature the same across all of your plants. In other words, you would want to control the temperature.

Another example is the amount of water you give the plant. If one plant receives twice the amount of water as another plant, there would be no way for you to know that the reason those plants grew the way they did is due only to the light color their received.

The observed effect could also be due in part to the amount of water they got. A control variable in science experiments is what allows you to compare other things that may be contributing to a result because you have kept other important things the same across all of your subjects.

Graphing Your Experiment

When graphing the results of your experiment, it is important to remember which variable goes on which axis.

The independent variable is graphed on the x-axis . The dependent variable , which changes in response to the independent variable, is graphed on the y-axis . Controlled variables are usually not graphed because they should not change. They could, however, be graphed as a verification that other conditions are not changing.

For example, after graphing the growth as compared to light, you could also look at how the temperature varied across different conditions. If you notice that it did vary quite a bit, you may need to go back and look at your experimental setup: How could you improve the experiment so that all plants are exposed to as similar an environment as possible (aside from the light color)?

How to Remember Which is Which

In order to try and remember which is the dependent variable and which is the independent variable, try putting them into a sentence which uses "causes a change in."

Here's an example. Saying, "light color causes a change in plant growth," is possible. This shows us that the independent variable affects the dependent variable. The inverse, however, is not true. "Plant growth causes a change in light color," is not possible. This way you know which is the independent variable and which is the dependent variable!

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Experimental Design: Types, Examples & Methods

Saul McLeod, PhD

Editor-in-Chief for Simply Psychology

BSc (Hons) Psychology, MRes, PhD, University of Manchester

Saul McLeod, PhD., is a qualified psychology teacher with over 18 years of experience in further and higher education. He has been published in peer-reviewed journals, including the Journal of Clinical Psychology.

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Experimental design refers to how participants are allocated to different groups in an experiment. Types of design include repeated measures, independent groups, and matched pairs designs.

Probably the most common way to design an experiment in psychology is to divide the participants into two groups, the experimental group and the control group, and then introduce a change to the experimental group, not the control group.

The researcher must decide how he/she will allocate their sample to the different experimental groups.  For example, if there are 10 participants, will all 10 participants participate in both groups (e.g., repeated measures), or will the participants be split in half and take part in only one group each?

Three types of experimental designs are commonly used:

1. Independent Measures

Independent measures design, also known as between-groups , is an experimental design where different participants are used in each condition of the independent variable.  This means that each condition of the experiment includes a different group of participants.

This should be done by random allocation, ensuring that each participant has an equal chance of being assigned to one group.

Independent measures involve using two separate groups of participants, one in each condition. For example:

• Con : More people are needed than with the repeated measures design (i.e., more time-consuming).
• Pro : Avoids order effects (such as practice or fatigue) as people participate in one condition only.  If a person is involved in several conditions, they may become bored, tired, and fed up by the time they come to the second condition or become wise to the requirements of the experiment!
• Con : Differences between participants in the groups may affect results, for example, variations in age, gender, or social background.  These differences are known as participant variables (i.e., a type of extraneous variable ).
• Control : After the participants have been recruited, they should be randomly assigned to their groups. This should ensure the groups are similar, on average (reducing participant variables).

2. Repeated Measures Design

Repeated Measures design is an experimental design where the same participants participate in each independent variable condition.  This means that each experiment condition includes the same group of participants.

Repeated Measures design is also known as within-groups or within-subjects design .

• Pro : As the same participants are used in each condition, participant variables (i.e., individual differences) are reduced.
• Con : There may be order effects. Order effects refer to the order of the conditions affecting the participants’ behavior.  Performance in the second condition may be better because the participants know what to do (i.e., practice effect).  Or their performance might be worse in the second condition because they are tired (i.e., fatigue effect). This limitation can be controlled using counterbalancing.
• Pro : Fewer people are needed as they participate in all conditions (i.e., saves time).
• Control : To combat order effects, the researcher counter-balances the order of the conditions for the participants.  Alternating the order in which participants perform in different conditions of an experiment.

Counterbalancing

Suppose we used a repeated measures design in which all of the participants first learned words in “loud noise” and then learned them in “no noise.”

We expect the participants to learn better in “no noise” because of order effects, such as practice. However, a researcher can control for order effects using counterbalancing.

The sample would be split into two groups: experimental (A) and control (B).  For example, group 1 does ‘A’ then ‘B,’ and group 2 does ‘B’ then ‘A.’ This is to eliminate order effects.

Although order effects occur for each participant, they balance each other out in the results because they occur equally in both groups.

3. Matched Pairs Design

A matched pairs design is an experimental design where pairs of participants are matched in terms of key variables, such as age or socioeconomic status. One member of each pair is then placed into the experimental group and the other member into the control group .

One member of each matched pair must be randomly assigned to the experimental group and the other to the control group.

• Con : If one participant drops out, you lose 2 PPs’ data.
• Pro : Reduces participant variables because the researcher has tried to pair up the participants so that each condition has people with similar abilities and characteristics.
• Con : Very time-consuming trying to find closely matched pairs.
• Pro : It avoids order effects, so counterbalancing is not necessary.
• Con : Impossible to match people exactly unless they are identical twins!
• Control : Members of each pair should be randomly assigned to conditions. However, this does not solve all these problems.

Experimental design refers to how participants are allocated to an experiment’s different conditions (or IV levels). There are three types:

1. Independent measures / between-groups : Different participants are used in each condition of the independent variable.

2. Repeated measures /within groups : The same participants take part in each condition of the independent variable.

3. Matched pairs : Each condition uses different participants, but they are matched in terms of important characteristics, e.g., gender, age, intelligence, etc.

Learning Check

Read about each of the experiments below. For each experiment, identify (1) which experimental design was used; and (2) why the researcher might have used that design.

1 . To compare the effectiveness of two different types of therapy for depression, depressed patients were assigned to receive either cognitive therapy or behavior therapy for a 12-week period.

The researchers attempted to ensure that the patients in the two groups had similar severity of depressed symptoms by administering a standardized test of depression to each participant, then pairing them according to the severity of their symptoms.

2 . To assess the difference in reading comprehension between 7 and 9-year-olds, a researcher recruited each group from a local primary school. They were given the same passage of text to read and then asked a series of questions to assess their understanding.

3 . To assess the effectiveness of two different ways of teaching reading, a group of 5-year-olds was recruited from a primary school. Their level of reading ability was assessed, and then they were taught using scheme one for 20 weeks.

At the end of this period, their reading was reassessed, and a reading improvement score was calculated. They were then taught using scheme two for a further 20 weeks, and another reading improvement score for this period was calculated. The reading improvement scores for each child were then compared.

4 . To assess the effect of the organization on recall, a researcher randomly assigned student volunteers to two conditions.

Condition one attempted to recall a list of words that were organized into meaningful categories; condition two attempted to recall the same words, randomly grouped on the page.

Experiment Terminology

Ecological validity.

The degree to which an investigation represents real-life experiences.

Experimenter effects

These are the ways that the experimenter can accidentally influence the participant through their appearance or behavior.

Demand characteristics

The clues in an experiment lead the participants to think they know what the researcher is looking for (e.g., the experimenter’s body language).

Independent variable (IV)

The variable the experimenter manipulates (i.e., changes) is assumed to have a direct effect on the dependent variable.

Dependent variable (DV)

Variable the experimenter measures. This is the outcome (i.e., the result) of a study.

Extraneous variables (EV)

All variables which are not independent variables but could affect the results (DV) of the experiment. Extraneous variables should be controlled where possible.

Confounding variables

Variable(s) that have affected the results (DV), apart from the IV. A confounding variable could be an extraneous variable that has not been controlled.

Random Allocation

Randomly allocating participants to independent variable conditions means that all participants should have an equal chance of taking part in each condition.

The principle of random allocation is to avoid bias in how the experiment is carried out and limit the effects of participant variables.

Order effects

Changes in participants’ performance due to their repeating the same or similar test more than once. Examples of order effects include:

(i) practice effect: an improvement in performance on a task due to repetition, for example, because of familiarity with the task;

(ii) fatigue effect: a decrease in performance of a task due to repetition, for example, because of boredom or tiredness.

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Independent and Dependent Variables Examples

The independent and dependent variables are key to any scientific experiment, but how do you tell them apart? Here are the definitions of independent and dependent variables, examples of each type, and tips for telling them apart and graphing them.

Independent Variable

The independent variable is the factor the researcher changes or controls in an experiment. It is called independent because it does not depend on any other variable. The independent variable may be called the “controlled variable” because it is the one that is changed or controlled. This is different from the “ control variable ,” which is variable that is held constant so it won’t influence the outcome of the experiment.

Dependent Variable

The dependent variable is the factor that changes in response to the independent variable. It is the variable that you measure in an experiment. The dependent variable may be called the “responding variable.”

Examples of Independent and Dependent Variables

Here are several examples of independent and dependent variables in experiments:

• In a study to determine whether how long a student sleeps affects test scores, the independent variable is the length of time spent sleeping while the dependent variable is the test score.
• You want to know which brand of fertilizer is best for your plants. The brand of fertilizer is the independent variable. The health of the plants (height, amount and size of flowers and fruit, color) is the dependent variable.
• You want to compare brands of paper towels, to see which holds the most liquid. The independent variable is the brand of paper towel. The dependent variable is the volume of liquid absorbed by the paper towel.
• You suspect the amount of television a person watches is related to their age. Age is the independent variable. How many minutes or hours of television a person watches is the dependent variable.
• You think rising sea temperatures might affect the amount of algae in the water. The water temperature is the independent variable. The mass of algae is the dependent variable.
• In an experiment to determine how far people can see into the infrared part of the spectrum, the wavelength of light is the independent variable and whether the light is observed is the dependent variable.
• If you want to know whether caffeine affects your appetite, the presence/absence or amount of caffeine is the independent variable. Appetite is the dependent variable.
• You want to know which brand of microwave popcorn pops the best. The brand of popcorn is the independent variable. The number of popped kernels is the dependent variable. Of course, you could also measure the number of unpopped kernels instead.
• You want to determine whether a chemical is essential for rat nutrition, so you design an experiment. The presence/absence of the chemical is the independent variable. The health of the rat (whether it lives and reproduces) is the dependent variable. A follow-up experiment might determine how much of the chemical is needed. Here, the amount of chemical is the independent variable and the rat health is the dependent variable.

How to Tell the Independent and Dependent Variable Apart

If you’re having trouble identifying the independent and dependent variable, here are a few ways to tell them apart. First, remember the dependent variable depends on the independent variable. It helps to write out the variables as an if-then or cause-and-effect sentence that shows the independent variable causes an effect on the dependent variable. If you mix up the variables, the sentence won’t make sense. Example : The amount of eat (independent variable) affects how much you weigh (dependent variable).

This makes sense, but if you write the sentence the other way, you can tell it’s incorrect: Example : How much you weigh affects how much you eat. (Well, it could make sense, but you can see it’s an entirely different experiment.) If-then statements also work: Example : If you change the color of light (independent variable), then it affects plant growth (dependent variable). Switching the variables makes no sense: Example : If plant growth rate changes, then it affects the color of light. Sometimes you don’t control either variable, like when you gather data to see if there is a relationship between two factors. This can make identifying the variables a bit trickier, but establishing a logical cause and effect relationship helps: Example : If you increase age (independent variable), then average salary increases (dependent variable). If you switch them, the statement doesn’t make sense: Example : If you increase salary, then age increases.

How to Graph Independent and Dependent Variables

Plot or graph independent and dependent variables using the standard method. The independent variable is the x-axis, while the dependent variable is the y-axis. Remember the acronym DRY MIX to keep the variables straight: D = Dependent variable R = Responding variable/ Y = Graph on the y-axis or vertical axis M = Manipulated variable I = Independent variable X = Graph on the x-axis or horizontal axis

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• di Francia, G. Toraldo (1981). The Investigation of the Physical World . Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-29925-1.
• Gauch, Hugh G. Jr. (2003). Scientific Method in Practice . Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-01708-4.
• Popper, Karl R. (2003). Conjectures and Refutations: The Growth of Scientific Knowledge . Routledge. ISBN 0-415-28594-1.

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What Are Independent and Dependent Variables?

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Both the independent variable and dependent variable are examined in an experiment using the scientific method , so it's important to know what they are and how to use them.

In a scientific experiment, you'll ultimately be changing or controlling the independent variable and measuring the effect on the dependent variable. This distinction is critical in evaluating and proving hypotheses.

Below you'll find more about these two types of variables, along with examples of each in sample science experiments, and an explanation of how to graph them to help visualize your data.

What Is an Independent Variable?

An independent variable is the condition that you change in an experiment. In other words, it is the variable you control. It is called independent because its value does not depend on and is not affected by the state of any other variable in the experiment. Sometimes you may hear this variable called the "controlled variable" because it is the one that is changed. Do not confuse it with a control variable , which is a variable that is purposely held constant so that it can't affect the outcome of the experiment.

• What Is a Dependent Variable?

The dependent variable is the condition that you measure in an experiment. You are assessing how it responds to a change in the independent variable, so you can think of it as depending on the independent variable. Sometimes the dependent variable is called the "responding variable."

Independent and Dependent Variable Examples

• In a study to determine whether the amount of time a student sleeps affects test scores, the independent variable is the amount of time spent sleeping while the dependent variable is the test score.
• You want to compare brands of paper towels to see which holds the most liquid. The independent variable in your experiment would be the brand of paper towels. The dependent variable would be the amount of liquid absorbed by the paper towel.
• In an experiment to determine how far people can see into the infrared part of the spectrum, the wavelength of light is the independent variable and whether the light is observed (the response) is the dependent variable.
• If you want to know whether caffeine affects your appetite, the presence or absence of a given amount of caffeine would be the independent variable. How hungry you are would be the dependent variable.
• You want to determine whether a chemical is essential for rat nutrition, so you design an experiment. The presence or absence of the chemical is the independent variable. The health of the rat (whether it lives and can reproduce) is the dependent variable. If you determine the substance is necessary for proper nutrition, a follow-up experiment might determine how much of the chemical is needed. Here, the amount of the chemical would be the independent variable, and the rat's health would be the dependent variable.

How Do You Tell Independent and Dependent Variables Apart?

If you are having a hard time identifying which variable is the independent variable and which is the dependent variable, remember the dependent variable is the one affected by a change in the independent variable. If you write out the variables in a sentence that shows cause and effect, the independent variable causes the effect on the dependent variable. If you have the variables in the wrong order, the sentence won't make sense.

Independent variable causes an effect on the dependent variable.

Example : How long you sleep (independent variable) affects your test score (dependent variable).

This makes sense, but:

Example : Your test score affects how long you sleep.

This doesn't really make sense (unless you can't sleep because you are worried you failed a test, but that would be a different experiment).

How to Plot Variables on a Graph

There is a standard method for graphing independent and dependent variables. The x-axis is the independent variable, while the y-axis is the dependent variable. You can use the DRY MIX acronym to help remember how to graph variables:

D  = dependent variable R  = responding variable Y  = graph on the vertical or y-axis

M  = manipulated variable I  = independent variable X  = graph on the horizontal or x-axis

Test your understanding with the scientific method quiz .

Key Takeaways

• In scientific experiments, the independent variable is manipulated while the dependent variable is measured.
• The independent variable, controlled by the experimenter, influences the dependent variable, which responds to changes. This dynamic forms the basis of cause-and-effect relationships.
• Graphing independent and dependent variables follows a standard method in which the independent variable is plotted on the x-axis and the dependent variable on the y-axis.
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Independent and Dependent Variables: Which Is Which?

General Education

Independent and dependent variables are important for both math and science. If you don't understand what these two variables are and how they differ, you'll struggle to analyze an experiment or plot equations. Fortunately, we make learning these concepts easy!

In this guide, we break down what independent and dependent variables are , give examples of the variables in actual experiments, explain how to properly graph them, provide a quiz to test your skills, and discuss the one other important variable you need to know.

What Is an Independent Variable? What Is a Dependent Variable?

A variable is something you're trying to measure. It can be practically anything, such as objects, amounts of time, feelings, events, or ideas. If you're studying how people feel about different television shows, the variables in that experiment are television shows and feelings. If you're studying how different types of fertilizer affect how tall plants grow, the variables are type of fertilizer and plant height.

There are two key variables in every experiment: the independent variable and the dependent variable.

Independent variable: What the scientist changes or what changes on its own.

Dependent variable: What is being studied/measured.

The independent variable (sometimes known as the manipulated variable) is the variable whose change isn't affected by any other variable in the experiment. Either the scientist has to change the independent variable herself or it changes on its own; nothing else in the experiment affects or changes it. Two examples of common independent variables are age and time. There's nothing you or anything else can do to speed up or slow down time or increase or decrease age. They're independent of everything else.

The dependent variable (sometimes known as the responding variable) is what is being studied and measured in the experiment. It's what changes as a result of the changes to the independent variable. An example of a dependent variable is how tall you are at different ages. The dependent variable (height) depends on the independent variable (age).

An easy way to think of independent and dependent variables is, when you're conducting an experiment, the independent variable is what you change, and the dependent variable is what changes because of that. You can also think of the independent variable as the cause and the dependent variable as the effect.

It can be a lot easier to understand the differences between these two variables with examples, so let's look at some sample experiments below.

Examples of Independent and Dependent Variables in Experiments

Below are overviews of three experiments, each with their independent and dependent variables identified.

Experiment 1: You want to figure out which brand of microwave popcorn pops the most kernels so you can get the most value for your money. You test different brands of popcorn to see which bag pops the most popcorn kernels.

• Independent Variable: Brand of popcorn bag (It's the independent variable because you are actually deciding the popcorn bag brands)
• Dependent Variable: Number of kernels popped (This is the dependent variable because it's what you measure for each popcorn brand)

Experiment 2 : You want to see which type of fertilizer helps plants grow fastest, so you add a different brand of fertilizer to each plant and see how tall they grow.

• Independent Variable: Type of fertilizer given to the plant
• Dependent Variable: Plant height

Experiment 3: You're interested in how rising sea temperatures impact algae life, so you design an experiment that measures the number of algae in a sample of water taken from a specific ocean site under varying temperatures.

• Independent Variable: Ocean temperature
• Dependent Variable: The number of algae in the sample

For each of the independent variables above, it's clear that they can't be changed by other variables in the experiment. You have to be the one to change the popcorn and fertilizer brands in Experiments 1 and 2, and the ocean temperature in Experiment 3 cannot be significantly changed by other factors. Changes to each of these independent variables cause the dependent variables to change in the experiments.

Where Do You Put Independent and Dependent Variables on Graphs?

Independent and dependent variables always go on the same places in a graph. This makes it easy for you to quickly see which variable is independent and which is dependent when looking at a graph or chart. The independent variable always goes on the x-axis, or the horizontal axis. The dependent variable goes on the y-axis, or vertical axis.

Here's an example:

As you can see, this is a graph showing how the number of hours a student studies affects the score she got on an exam. From the graph, it looks like studying up to six hours helped her raise her score, but as she studied more than that her score dropped slightly.

The amount of time studied is the independent variable, because it's what she changed, so it's on the x-axis. The score she got on the exam is the dependent variable, because it's what changed as a result of the independent variable, and it's on the y-axis. It's common to put the units in parentheses next to the axis titles, which this graph does.

There are different ways to title a graph, but a common way is "[Independent Variable] vs. [Dependent Variable]" like this graph. Using a standard title like that also makes it easy for others to see what your independent and dependent variables are.

Are There Other Important Variables to Know?

Independent and dependent variables are the two most important variables to know and understand when conducting or studying an experiment, but there is one other type of variable that you should be aware of: constant variables.

Constant variables (also known as "constants") are simple to understand: they're what stay the same during the experiment. Most experiments usually only have one independent variable and one dependent variable, but they will all have multiple constant variables.

For example, in Experiment 2 above, some of the constant variables would be the type of plant being grown, the amount of fertilizer each plant is given, the amount of water each plant is given, when each plant is given fertilizer and water, the amount of sunlight the plants receive, the size of the container each plant is grown in, and more. The scientist is changing the type of fertilizer each plant gets which in turn changes how much each plant grows, but every other part of the experiment stays the same.

In experiments, you have to test one independent variable at a time in order to accurately understand how it impacts the dependent variable. Constant variables are important because they ensure that the dependent variable is changing because, and only because, of the independent variable so you can accurately measure the relationship between the dependent and independent variables.

If you didn't have any constant variables, you wouldn't be able to tell if the independent variable was what was really affecting the dependent variable. For example, in the example above, if there were no constants and you used different amounts of water, different types of plants, different amounts of fertilizer and put the plants in windows that got different amounts of sun, you wouldn't be able to say how fertilizer type affected plant growth because there would be so many other factors potentially affecting how the plants grew.

3 Experiments to Help You Understand Independent and Dependent Variables

If you're still having a hard time understanding the relationship between independent and dependent variable, it might help to see them in action. Here are three experiments you can try at home.

Experiment 1: Plant Growth Rates

One simple way to explore independent and dependent variables is to construct a biology experiment with seeds. Try growing some sunflowers and see how different factors affect their growth. For example, say you have ten sunflower seedlings, and you decide to give each a different amount of water each day to see if that affects their growth. The independent variable here would be the amount of water you give the plants, and the dependent variable is how tall the sunflowers grow.

Experiment 2: Chemical Reactions

Explore a wide range of chemical reactions with this chemistry kit . It includes 100+ ideas for experiments—pick one that interests you and analyze what the different variables are in the experiment!

Experiment 3: Simple Machines

Build and test a range of simple and complex machines with this K'nex kit . How does increasing a vehicle's mass affect its velocity? Can you lift more with a fixed or movable pulley? Remember, the independent variable is what you control/change, and the dependent variable is what changes because of that.

Quiz: Test Your Variable Knowledge

Can you identify the independent and dependent variables for each of the four scenarios below? The answers are at the bottom of the guide for you to check your work.

Scenario 1: You buy your dog multiple brands of food to see which one is her favorite.

Scenario 2: Your friends invite you to a party, and you decide to attend, but you're worried that staying out too long will affect how well you do on your geometry test tomorrow morning.

Scenario 3: Your dentist appointment will take 30 minutes from start to finish, but that doesn't include waiting in the lounge before you're called in. The total amount of time you spend in the dentist's office is the amount of time you wait before your appointment, plus the 30 minutes of the actual appointment

Scenario 4: You regularly babysit your little cousin who always throws a tantrum when he's asked to eat his vegetables. Over the course of the week, you ask him to eat vegetables four times.

Summary: Independent vs Dependent Variable

Knowing the independent variable definition and dependent variable definition is key to understanding how experiments work. The independent variable is what you change, and the dependent variable is what changes as a result of that. You can also think of the independent variable as the cause and the dependent variable as the effect.

When graphing these variables, the independent variable should go on the x-axis (the horizontal axis), and the dependent variable goes on the y-axis (vertical axis).

Constant variables are also important to understand. They are what stay the same throughout the experiment so you can accurately measure the impact of the independent variable on the dependent variable.

What's Next?

Independent and dependent variables are commonly taught in high school science classes. Read our guide to learn which science classes high school students should be taking.

Scoring well on standardized tests is an important part of having a strong college application. Check out our guides on the best study tips for the SAT and ACT.

Interested in science? Science Olympiad is a great extracurricular to include on your college applications, and it can help you win big scholarships. Check out our complete guide to winning Science Olympiad competitions.

Quiz Answers

1: Independent: dog food brands; Dependent: how much you dog eats

2: Independent: how long you spend at the party; Dependent: your exam score

3: Independent: Amount of time you spend waiting; Dependent: Total time you're at the dentist (the 30 minutes of appointment time is the constant)

4: Independent: Number of times your cousin is asked to eat vegetables; Dependent: number of tantrums

These recommendations are based solely on our knowledge and experience. If you purchase an item through one of our links, PrepScholar may receive a commission.

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• Independent, Dependent and Confounding Variables

Some variables are manipulated and others are controlled. The greatest advantage with this method is that you can infer cause and effect because of the way the experiment is set up and the way it is controlled. A disadvantage can be your subjects might not behave as naturally as they should. There are two very important types of variables : You must have these two variables in order to have an experiment that demonstrates causality. Variables meaning to vary, something that can be changed.

E.g. time, temperature, height, etc.

Independent variable (IV) – What the experimenter manipulates to see if it affects behavior.

Dependent variable (DV) – The behavior that is measured to see if the IV had an effect.

E.g. you are studying the effects of alcohol on memory. The amount of alcohol is the IV and you are measuring the memory (DV). A good way of thinking about this; the IV is the cause and the DV is the effect .

When an experiment is conducted, usually there is more than one IV and DV. Because conducting research is very time-consuming, allowing more than one IV and DV will allow you to collect more data to learn more about human behavior.

E.g. Males age 20, 25, 30, 35 were given 20 words to be recalled. The 20 year old group better. What is the IV?

Age, number of words, or intelligence (IQ)? The only IV in this study is AGE. The researcher is only manipulating the age.

In a study, your IV will be mentioned.

E.g. Subjects were asked to smell spices and researchers recorded the number of sneezes and how long it took.

The IV – types of spices

The DV – number of sneezes and how long it took (2 DVs)

With an experiment, you need at least one IV, one DV, and a control group.

Control group – a group that is used as a standard for comparison. It does not possess the independent variable. The control and experimental groups must be equal in every way except for the independent variable. There must be some type of basis for comparison to determine if there is a cause-and-effect relationship . In certain cases, you can have more than one control group.

All other groups in the study are called the experimental group(s) and the control group is the standard; void of the independent variable.

E.g. You are looking at the effects of alcohol on memory; there are 2 different kinds of control groups that you can have and you can have 2 scenarios:

• Your control group has nothing to drink. This will not allow your groups to be equal because the control group will be expected to do better on the memory test since they did not receive any alcohol.
• Your control group has a non-alcoholic drink. This group will have some sort of expectations about their level of intoxication and in turn, will have the same expectations as the group who received alcohol. This group has been given a placebo.

Ideally, you would want your groups to have similar expectations. In this case, the placebo is the non-alcoholic drink.

Placebo control group is a special type of control group that is used to control for subjects’ expectations that could affect results.

If the control group is given a placebo , then it’s assumed that all groups (control and experimental) are equal in terms of their expectation, and so any differences in behavior (e.g. memory) can be attributed to the actual amount of alcohol consumed, and not to expect.

An important kind of variable is the confounding variable . It is a variable that interferes with the results of the study. It affects the dependent variable; therefore you are not sure whether the effects are caused by the independent variable or the confounding variable. Confounding variables change with the independent variable as it is unintentionally affecting the experiment.

E.g. Regarding the alcohol example, the independent variable is the amount of alcohol consumed, the dependent variable is the performance on the memory task, and a confounding variable may be underlying alcohol tolerance.

E.g. You want to study the effects of study time and grades on a test. You are going to have 3 different groups.

Group 1 will not study

Group 2 will study for 5 hours

Group 3 will study for 10 hours

You’ll then measure what the average grade of each group is.

Independent variable – hours of study

Dependent variable – grades

Control group – group 1

Experimental group – groups 2 and 3

The group studying for 10 hours is doing the same as the group who did not study! Is there a problem?

You discovered that the group who studied for 10 hours did not get any sleep the night prior to the test because of studying. Is their grade caused by how much they studied or is the grade caused by how much they slept? You don’t know. What you have is called a confounding variable (CV) .

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What is the IV and DV in an experiment?

Table of Contents

• 1 What is the IV and DV in an experiment?
• 2 What does IV stand for in research?
• 3 What is IV and DV examples?
• 4 Does IV go in artery or vein?
• 5 What does IV mean for biology?
• 6 What are the four principles of experimental design?
• 7 How to choose an independent variable for an experiment?
• 8 Why are IV and DV considered independent variables?

Independent variables (IV): These are the factors or conditions that you manipulate in an experiment. Your hypothesis is that this variable causes a direct effect on the dependent variable. Dependent variables (DV): These are the factor that you observe or measure.

What does IV stand for in research?

The independent variable (IV) is the characteristic of a psychology experiment that is manipulated or changed by researchers, not by other variables in the experiment. For example, in an experiment looking at the effects of studying on test scores, studying would be the independent variable.

What are the levels in an experiment?

Treatments are administered to experimental units by ‘level’, where level implies amount or magnitude. For example, if the experimental units were given 5mg, 10mg, 15mg of a medication, those amounts would be three levels of the treatment.

What is the effect of IV on DV?

An Independent Variable (IV) is one which affects or influences or contributes to the DV. The IV accounts for the variance of the DV. With each unit of increase in the IV there is an increase or decrease of the DV. The influence of IV on the DV may be positive or negative.

What is IV and DV examples?

The IV is the dose given and the DV is the intensity and frequency of symptoms. The intensity and frequency of symptoms “depends” on the dose of drug given. Example 4: You are studying how tutoring affects SAT scores. Your independent variable(IV) is tutoring and the dependent variable(DV) is test scores.

Does IV go in artery or vein?

IVs are always placed in veins, not arteries, allowing the medication to move through the bloodstream to the heart. Learn more about IVs by reading 10 Commonly Asked IV Therapy Questions.

What is a level in stats?

In an experiment, the factor (also called an independent variable) is an explanatory variable manipulated by the experimenter. Each factor has two or more levels, i.e., different values of the factor. Combinations of factor levels are called treatments.

What does Ivcdv mean?

Independent variable and dependent variable.

What does IV mean for biology?

Independent variable (IV) the variable that is varied or manipulated by the researcher (sometimes considered the “input”).

What are the four principles of experimental design?

The basic principles of experimental design are (i) Randomization, (ii) Replication and (iii) Local Control.

When do IVs and DVS occur in an experiment?

When do you say there are levels of an independent variable?

How to choose an independent variable for an experiment?

Why are iv and dv considered independent variables.

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Experiment IV

‘Experiment IV’ is a song written by Kate Bush. It was originally released as a single on 27 October 1986, ahead of the compilation album The Whole Story , where it was one of two new recordings and the only new song. The song tells a story about a secret military plan to create a sound that is horrific enough to kill people. 

‘Experiment IV’ was released as a 7″ single and a 12″ single. The B-side of the 7″ single featured Wuthering Heights (New Vocal); the 12″ single featured a 12″ mix of ‘Experiment IV’ along with Wuthering Heights (New Vocal) and December Will Be Magic Again .

There are three versions of ‘Experiment IV’: the single version, the video version and the 12″ mix.

Music video

The music video, directed by Kate, for the song adapts the “storyline” of the song and chronicles the destruction of a secret military installation by a creature made of sound. The science fiction film-in-miniature includes appearances from Dawn French, Hugh Laurie, Gary Oldman, Richard Vernon , Peter Vaughan and Del Palmer . Kate appears on screen as an orderly officer serving tea, as the sound creature and at the end entering a van. The set was an old military hospital near Blackheath which was actually designed by Florence Nightingale. The video was banned from Top of The Pops because it was considered too violent. The music video was nominated for the Best Concept Music Video at the 1988 Grammy Awards.

Performances

Kate performed ‘Experiment IV’ on the BBC television programme Wogan on October 31, 1986. The elaborate set featured a desk with paperwork, at least two Fairlight CMI’s and the KT Bush band dressed in lab coats. Midway through the song the violinist Nigel Kennedy appears to play his solo. Although this is a lipsynch performance, great care and preparation was taken to make this a visually appealing performance.

Cover versions

‘Experiment IV’ was covered by Rikki Arkitech , Big City Orchestre , Kat Devlin and Hybrid .

Critical response

The first lady of progressive rock warbles out another chilling fantasy. Kate crams more into seven inches of plastic than most science fiction writers could fit into a trilogy of novels. An epic to curl up with on some storm torn winters evening. Edwin Pouncy, Sounds, 1 November 1986

Initially conventional, she hides inside the slight shapes, sticking the needle into our eyeballs with customary delicacy… it grows. Mick Mercer, Melody Maker, 1 November 1986

Chilling, moody, beautiful… An essential purchase. Mark Putterford, Kerrang!, 5 November 1986

Behind ethereal dreamy swirls of sound, a story line worthy of Stephen King. Nancy Erlich, BillBoard (USA), 6 December 1986

Kate about ‘Experiment IV’

This was written as an extra track for the compilation album The Whole Story and was released as the single. I was excited at the opportunity of directing the video and not having to appear in it other than in a minor role, especially as this song told a story that could be challenging to tell visually. I chose to film it in a very handsome old military hospital that was derelict at the time. It was a huge, labyrinthine hospital with incredibly long corridors, which was one reason for choosing it. Florence Nightingale had been involved in the design of the hospital. Not something she is well known for but she actually had a huge impact on hospital design that was pioneering and changed the way hospitals were designed from then on. The video was an intense project and not a comfortable shoot, as you can imagine – a giant of a building, damp and full of shadows with no lighting or heating but it was like a dream to work with such a talented crew and cast with Dawn French, Hugh Laurie, Peter Vaughn and Richard Vernon in the starring roles. It was a strange and eerie feeling bringing parts of the hospital to life again. Not long after our work there it was converted into luxury apartments. I can imagine that some of those glamorous rooms have uninvited soldiers and nurses dropping by for a cup of tea and a Hobnob. We had to create a recording studio for the video, so tape machines and outboard gear were recruited from my recording studio and the mixing console was very kindly lent to us by Abbey Road Studios. It was the desk the Beatles had used – me too, when we’d made the album Never For Ever in Studio Two. It was such a characterful desk that would’ve looked right at home in any vintage aircraft. Although it was a tough shoot it was a lot of fun and everyone worked so hard for such long hours. I was really pleased with the result. ( KateBush.com, February 2019 )

We were working secretly For the military We only know in theory What we are doing: Music made for pleasure Music made to thrill It was music we were making here until

They told us All they wanted Was a sound that could kill someone From a distance So we go ahead And the meters are over in the red It’s a mistake in the making

From the painful cry of mothers, To the terrifying scream, We recorded it and put it into our machine. Then they told us All they wanted Was a sound that could kill someone From a distance. So we go ahead, And the meters are over in the red It’s a mistake in the making

It could feel like falling in love It could feel so bad But it could feel so good It could sing you to sleep But that dream is your enemy

We won’t be there to be blamed We won’t be there to snitch I just pray that someone there Can hit the switch

But they told us All they wanted Was a sound that could kill someone From a distance So we go ahead, And the meters are over in the red It’s a mistake we’ve made

And the public are warned to stay off

Drums: Stuart Elliott Guitar: Alan Murphy Violin: Nigel Kennedy

• Experiment IV . Wikipedia, retrieved 11 November 2014.
• Kevin Cann & Sean Mayes, Kate Bush: A visual documentary , cop. 1988. ISBN 0711910391.

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• August 15, 2017

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IV Therapy Is Soaring in Popularity — But Is It Safe?

Elective IV therapy is not regulated or approved by the FDA, and many in the medical field consider this trend to be controversial.

Does IV therapy work?

Is iv therapy safe, what are the side effects of iv therapy, how much do iv therapy infusions cost, bottom line.

IV therapy is marketed to aid an assortment of ailments:

• Dehydration

And there are other claims that the drips can help you boost immunity and “detox” the body.

While fans of IV therapy call it magic in a bag, not everyone in the medical community thinks it’s a wellness wonder.

“It’s important to note that IV therapy for non-medical reasons is still considered by many in the medical field to be a controversial practice,” says Brynna Connor, MD, a family medicine physician and healthcare ambassador at NorthWestPharmacy.com .

Here’s what you need to know about IV drips before you consider getting that jab.

What is IV therapy?

Getting an IV therapy infusion is a literal shot in the arm of nutrients and fluids. It works just the same as when you’re given an IV in a hospital, with a needle and tiny catheter inserted into a vein.

Infusions are a cocktail of sterile saline water plus vitamins and minerals, like magnesium, zinc, calcium, vitamin C and vitamin B12. Another popular ingredient is the antioxidant glutathione, which naturally occurs in the body and is thought to protect cells from free-radical damage and support immune function. Drips for migraines and hangovers may also include actual drugs, such as the NSAID pain reliever Toradol and anti-nausea drug Zofran.

“Think of IV therapy as a fancy dissolved multivitamin, which can achieve blood concentrations higher than if you took the multivitamin by mouth,” says Claire Murphy, MD , a pathologist and medical director of PeaceHealth’s Riverbend Hospital Laboratory and Blood Bank in Oregon.

When you ingest vitamins and minerals through food — which is still the best way to get them — or oral supplements , they have to make their way through your digestive system and get broken down before they’re absorbed by the kidneys and liver. Infusions speed up this process by delivering the same vitamins and minerals right from the IV bag to your veins.

“The premise is that when the vitamins and minerals are injected directly into the bloodstream, they bypass the digestive system, which allows you to feel the effects faster than you would if you were taking an oral supplement,” Dr. Connor says.

Infusions typically take 45 minutes to an hour to complete, but people often report feeling better within minutes. The effects of an infusion can last anywhere from a few days to two weeks. But why exactly people feel better isn’t totally clear: It could be the effects of rehydration, the burst of vitamins or even just a placebo effect.

Research into IV vitamin therapy is scant. Much of it has been conducted on infusions given in medical settings, not spas, including 2022 research that found IV therapy was an effective and generally safe way to rehydrate the body. There’s no conclusive evidence of the treatment’s efficacy with hangovers and other ailments.

“Very few studies have tested the effectiveness of these vitamin cocktails in people who do not have a true vitamin or mineral deficiency or chronic disease,” Dr. Murphy says. “Anecdotal evidence or personal stories are not considered strong evidence by scientists. In the end, it just becomes expensive urine, as your body removes all the excess.”

Any medical procedure carries some degree of risk, but IV therapy infusions are generally safe when administered by licensed medical professionals.

That said, elective IV therapy is not regulated or approved by the FDA . In 2021, the FDA issued an alert raising concerns about unsanitary conditions and the use of contaminated drugs being mixed into infusions at some clinics, medical spas and mobile IV services. Plus, without FDA regulation, it’s impossible to know with any certainty exactly what’s in your IV drip, beyond what’s marketed.

Although rare, severe side effects such as septic shock and organ failure — even death — from incorrectly administered infusions have been reported.

“Poor quality and contaminated compounded drug products can lead to serious patient illnesses, including death,” Dr. Murphy says. “While these events seem rare, the IV therapy industry has grown so fast without regulation, it is likely these events are underreported.”

The American IV Association (AIVA) is a collective of medical professionals and business owners that was founded with the goal of standardizing safety protocols and treatment practices of IV therapy. AIVA has a certification program and directory of member businesses that have completed it.

“This was an industry that came on almost by public demand, and it came on very rapidly,” says AIVA board member Carrie Carda, MD , ABOG, MS, MHS, an OB-GYN, regenerative health practitioner, and National Medical Director for 10X Health System in Aventura, Florida. “Our whole goal is to keep it safe, because it is a medical procedure. The concentration of your fluid matters as does how you're mixing the ingredients and which ingredients you're getting for the symptoms you're having. Those kinds of things need to be governed by an appropriate authoritative body.”

Each IV therapy treatment is a little different, and each person may respond to it in different ways. Skin irritation at the insertion site is common. And any insertion of an IV into a vein carries a risk of infection.

Most of us could probably stand to be more hydrated and consume more vitamins and minerals, and IV drips do provide that. But the dosing and combining of these nutrients into an IV cocktail aren’t regulated, and too much of a good thing can be bad. Getting too much fluid too quickly can cause swelling and affect blood pressure. Exceeding recommended doses of vitamins and minerals can lead to toxicity.

Some people should avoid these treatments altogether, the experts caution — particularly those with high blood pressure, kidney and heart conditions.

“In people with abnormalities in blood levels of magnesium or potassium, such as those with kidney disease, or after excessive use of alcohol, a rapid correction can cause heart arrhythmias,” Dr. Murphy says. “In people with heart conditions or high blood pressure, IV therapy could lead to fluid overload, which can be harmful to the heart, lungs and kidneys.”

Ask your doctor first if vitamin infusions are safe for you, especially if you’re on any medications or have any pre-existing health conditions. People who are pregnant or breastfeeding should also avoid IV vitamin therapy, experts say.

The price for IV therapy varies from place to place, but it’s likely going to run between $100 and $300 per treatment . And it will be an out-of-pocket expense. You may be able to use a health spending account (HSA) or flexible spending account (FSA) to pay for treatments, but not insurance.

“Insurance typically doesn’t cover IV therapy in a nonmedical setting because it’s considered an elective procedure,” Dr. Connor says.

The biggest benefit of IV therapy likely comes from rehydration. There’s not enough quality research to support other claims. It might make you feel better in the short term, but IV therapy should never take the place of actual medical treatment from a physician or prioritizing a water-filled, nutrient-rich diet.

“Overall, IV therapy can manage some symptoms, but the actual root cause of the problem still needs to be identified and addressed,” Dr. Murphy adds. “If you are concerned about a [nutrient] deficiency, review your current diet and lifestyle choices and talk to a medical practitioner or nutritionist.”

In a nutshell: When it comes to IV therapy, proceed with caution and consult your doctor before you try it.

“This is a controversial topic among purists in medicine and the med-spa industry,” Dr. Connor says. “Although it may seem low risk, it’s important that, if you are going to engage in IV therapy, you find a highly skilled practitioner with sufficient training. When IV therapy is performed by people with little to no training, it can have very bad outcomes.”

Why trust Good Housekeeping

Stephanie Anderson Witmer, the author of this article, has written about health for Good Housekeeping , Prevention and other magazines and digital brands for more than 25 years. She conducted interviews with multiple doctors and healthcare professionals for their expertise and recommendations, and read research on IV therapy. In addition, the editor of this article has spent the last 12 years as a health editor, covering all things health, fitness, nutrition, and wellness and adheres to the highest journalistic standards.

Stephanie Anderson Witmer has been a professional journalist for more than 20 years, with a focus on writing and editing stories about food, agriculture, health, parenting, home, and garden for magazines, newspapers, and websites.

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