Independent / Dependent Variables
Social science variables can be tricky
Social science researchers typically do not have the ability to manipulate variables, because they use surveys or interviews. It is important to note that when the research project is not a true experiment, you have to be cautious about assuming cause and effect when examining relationships between variables. So without being able to assume cause and effect relationships, independent variables are sometimes difficult to identify.
Tips
To help identify IV’s and DV’s in survey or social science research:
The dependent variable is always the variable you are trying to explain.
The independent variable should directly or indirectly influence the dependent variable.
The independent variable usually occurs before the dependent variable.
Example
Researcher wants to test whether students’ hours spent at the gym differ based on students’ gender.
The dependent variable in this case is the students’ hours spent at the gym, because:
The researcher is interested in explaining students hours spent at the gym.
Gender is hypothesised to “influence” hours spent at the gym
Gender socialization starts at birth, but hours spent at the gym occurs later in life (gender comes before hours spent at the gym).