In experimental research, a variable that is manipulated by the researcher is called what?

In experimental research, the term used for a variable that is manipulated by the researcher is the independent variable. This variable is deliberately changed or varied to observe its effects on another variable, typically referred to as the dependent variable. The independent variable is essential in establishing a cause-and-effect relationship in an experiment, as it allows researchers to determine how changes in this manipulated variable lead to changes in the outcome measured. For instance, if a researcher is studying the impact of different amounts of sunlight on plant growth, the amount of sunlight would be the independent variable, since it is what the researcher alters to assess its influence on the plants' growth (the dependent variable).

Control variables are those that are kept constant throughout the experiment to ensure that any changes in the dependent variable can be attributed solely to the independent variable. Confounding variables are factors outside of the independent variable that might affect the dependent variable, leading to potentially misleading results if not controlled. The dependent variable, on the other hand, is the outcome being measured or observed in response to the manipulation of the independent variable.