Discussion:
When an experiment is conducted, one variable is manipulated to see the impact on another variable -- that's why experiments address causation. The variable that is controlled or manipulated is called the independent variable and the one that is impacted is called the dependent variable.
An example from my text is how one recognizes hard work and its impact on productivity. A manager recognizes his or her employees, so the employees are very productive. Recognition is the independent variable and productivity is the dependent variable.
Q: Give Example of a situation from every day life where there would be an independent variable and a dependent variable?