Explaining the Relationship Between Two Variables: TEAS
Terms and Terminology Relating to Explaining the Relationship Between Two Variables
- Variable: An amount, quantity or number that can vary and change
- An independent variable: A factor that has some influence or impact on the dependent variable
- Dependent variable: The factor that changes as a result of the influence of the independent variable
- Response variable: Alternative term for dependent variable
- Control variable: The thing or things that are controlled and constant so that they do not impact on the dependent variable
- Covariance: The relationship between two variables
- Positive correlation: When both the independent and dependent variables increase together and at the same time and when both the independent and dependent variables decrease together and at the same time
- Negative correlation: When one of the variables increases at the same time that the other variable decreases
Variables
These three basic types of variables are:
- Independent variables
- Dependent variables
- Extraneous variables
Independent Variables
An independent variable is the factor that has some influence or impact on the dependent variable.
Dependent Variables
A dependent variable is the factor that changes as a result of the influence of the independent variable. It is the behavior, outcome or characteristic that changes as a response to some manipulation. For this reason, a dependent variable is sometimes referred to as a response variable.
Below are some examples of independent and dependent variables:
- Knowledge levels (dependent variable) after an educational class on stress management techniques (independent variable)
- The levels of stress (dependent variable) relating to the increasing severity of a chronic, progressive disease or illness (independent variable)
Extraneous Variables
Extraneous variables, which are also called, interfering variables, are conditions that undesirably impact on the dependent variable. This undesirable impact on a dependent variable should be prevented with the elimination and/or minimization of all extraneous variables.
When variables are put on a graph, the independent variable, like time in the graph above, is typically shown along the horizontal x axis of the graph and the dependent variable, like speed which increases with time in the graph above is typically placed and shown along the y axis.
RELATED TEAS MEASUREMENT & DATA CONTENT:
- Interpreting Relevant Information From Tables, Charts and Graphs
- Evaluating Information in Tables, Charts and Graphs Using Statistics
- Explaining the Relationship Between Two Variables (Currently here)
- Calculate Geometric Qualities
- Converting Within and Between Standard and Metric Systems
