In psychological studies, what does the term "independent variable" refer to?

The term "independent variable" refers specifically to factors that researchers manipulate in an experiment to observe their effects on a dependent variable. By changing the independent variable, researchers can assess how it influences outcomes, allowing for the establishment of causal relationships. This manipulation is crucial in experimental designs, as it helps to control for other variables and isolate the effects of the independent variable on the measured outcomes. Understanding the independent variable is essential to grasp the framework of experimental research, as it is the starting point for generating hypotheses and testing theories in psychology and related fields.