Identifying Independent Variables worksheet - Free Printable
Educational worksheet: Identifying Independent Variables worksheet. Download and print for classroom or home learning activities.
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Step-by-step solution for: Identifying Independent Variables worksheet
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Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: Identifying Independent Variables worksheet
Let's solve this step by step. The goal is to identify the independent variable in each scenario.
The independent variable is the factor that is deliberately changed or manipulated by the experimenter to observe its effect on the dependent variable (the outcome being measured).
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Now, let’s go through each scenario:
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- What is being changed? → Whether or not the chicken receives the growth hormone injection.
- This change is what we're testing to see if it affects weight.
- ✔ Independent Variable: *Administration of growth hormone* (or "injection of growth hormone")
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- What is being changed? → Whether bug repellent is applied to the arm.
- We’re testing if repellent reduces bites.
- ✔ Independent Variable: *Application of bug repellent*
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- What differs between the two? → Amount of sleep (9 vs. 6 hours).
- They’re comparing how sleep affects test performance.
- ✔ Independent Variable: *Amount of sleep*
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- What is different? → Exercise (one group exercises, the other doesn’t).
- The effect on weight gain is being observed.
- ✔ Independent Variable: *Exercise*
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- What is different? → Whether the class studies for the assessment.
- We're testing the effect of studying on test scores.
- ✔ Independent Variable: *Studying for the assessment*
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- What is changed? → Exposure to sunlight (one gets sun, one doesn’t).
- We’re measuring plant height as the result.
- ✔ Independent Variable: *Sunlight exposure* (or "presence of sunlight")
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- What is different? → Amount of sunlight (12 hours vs. none).
- The outcome is how green the plant appears.
- ✔ Independent Variable: *Duration of sunlight exposure*
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| Scenario | Independent Variable |
|--------|----------------------|
| One chicken is injected with a growth hormone... | Injection of growth hormone |
| A bug repellent is sprayed on one arm... | Application of bug repellent |
| Javier sleeps 9 hours... | Amount of sleep |
| Group A exercises for a month... | Exercise |
| One math class studies... | Studying for the assessment |
| One plant is given sunlight every day... | Sunlight exposure |
| One plant is given sunlight for 12 hours... | Duration of sunlight exposure |
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✔ Summary Tip: Always ask: *"What did the experimenter change?"* That’s the independent variable.
🔍 What is an Independent Variable?
The independent variable is the factor that is deliberately changed or manipulated by the experimenter to observe its effect on the dependent variable (the outcome being measured).
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Now, let’s go through each scenario:
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1. One chicken is injected with a growth hormone while another chicken is not injected. Both chickens are weighed after a year.
- What is being changed? → Whether or not the chicken receives the growth hormone injection.
- This change is what we're testing to see if it affects weight.
- ✔ Independent Variable: *Administration of growth hormone* (or "injection of growth hormone")
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2. A bug repellent is sprayed on one arm; the other arm is not sprayed. The number of bug bites is recorded after 2 hours.
- What is being changed? → Whether bug repellent is applied to the arm.
- We’re testing if repellent reduces bites.
- ✔ Independent Variable: *Application of bug repellent*
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3. Javier sleeps 9 hours the night before his science exam. His twin sister has the same exam and sleeps 6 hours the night before the test. Afterwards, they compare their scores.
- What differs between the two? → Amount of sleep (9 vs. 6 hours).
- They’re comparing how sleep affects test performance.
- ✔ Independent Variable: *Amount of sleep*
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4. Group A exercises for a month. Group B does not exercise. They measure the amount of weight they gained.
- What is different? → Exercise (one group exercises, the other doesn’t).
- The effect on weight gain is being observed.
- ✔ Independent Variable: *Exercise*
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5. One math class studies for an assessment while the math class next door does not. The scores of the two classes are compared.
- What is different? → Whether the class studies for the assessment.
- We're testing the effect of studying on test scores.
- ✔ Independent Variable: *Studying for the assessment*
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6. One plant is given sunlight every day. Another plant is not given any sunlight. After 3 weeks, we measure how tall the plant is.
- What is changed? → Exposure to sunlight (one gets sun, one doesn’t).
- We’re measuring plant height as the result.
- ✔ Independent Variable: *Sunlight exposure* (or "presence of sunlight")
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7. One plant is given sunlight for 12 hours a day. Another plant is not given any sunlight. After 3 weeks, we compare how green each plant looks.
- What is different? → Amount of sunlight (12 hours vs. none).
- The outcome is how green the plant appears.
- ✔ Independent Variable: *Duration of sunlight exposure*
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✔ Final Answers (Fill in the Table):
| Scenario | Independent Variable |
|--------|----------------------|
| One chicken is injected with a growth hormone... | Injection of growth hormone |
| A bug repellent is sprayed on one arm... | Application of bug repellent |
| Javier sleeps 9 hours... | Amount of sleep |
| Group A exercises for a month... | Exercise |
| One math class studies... | Studying for the assessment |
| One plant is given sunlight every day... | Sunlight exposure |
| One plant is given sunlight for 12 hours... | Duration of sunlight exposure |
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✔ Summary Tip: Always ask: *"What did the experimenter change?"* That’s the independent variable.
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of independent dependent variable worksheet.
