Science Experiment Variables

Purpose of Constants

• To maintain consistency and reliability in experimental results.

• To introduce variability in experiments.

• To eliminate the need for controls in experiments.

• To simplify the data analysis process.

Independent Variable (I.V.)

• Variables that were purposefully changed or manipulated.

• Variables that remain constant throughout the experiment.

• Variables that are measured in response to changes.

• Variables that are not related to the experiment.

I.V. stands for

• Independent Variable

• Intervening Variable

• Invariable Value

• Initial Value

Control

• The group that receives no amount of the independent variable or it is the normal situation.

• The group that receives the highest amount of the independent variable.

• The group that is manipulated to observe changes.

• The group that receives a different treatment than the experimental group.

Dependent Variable (D.V.)

• Variables that respond to the change.

• Variables that are manipulated in an experiment.

• Variables that remain constant throughout the experiment.

• Variables that are measured but not affected by other variables.

Constants and Variables

• Constants are fixed; variables are change.

• Constants can change; variables are fixed.

• Both constants and variables can change.

• Constants and variables are the same.

Variables that respond to changes

• Independent Variable (I.V.)

• Dependent Variable (D.V.)

• Control Variable

• Constant Variable

responding variable

(data variable)

• Independent Variable (I.V.)

• Control Variable

• Dependent Variable (D.V.)

• Extraneous Variable

Role of Constants

• Should be everything in the experiment except your variables.

• Are the factors that change during the experiment.

• Are the measurements taken during the experiment.

• Are the results obtained from the experiment.

Repeated Trials

• The number of times an experiment is repeated until the data becomes constant

• The initial setup of an experiment before any trials are conducted

• The total number of experiments conducted in a study

• The average result obtained from multiple experiments