Step 5B: Select your variables

In order to design a good experiment, you need to identify one factor you will change while keeping all other factors the same. This results in a fair test. The factors you will change are called variables. A variable is an object, event, idea, feeling, time period, or any other type of category you are trying to measure.

• Identify what variable you’ll change in your experiment. Make sure this is something you have the ability to change and measure. This will be your independent variable.
• Identify what you expect to see as a result of the change. How do you plan to observe and measure this change? This will be your dependent variable.
• Identify what variable you will keep the same in your experiment. It should be something that you won’t change at all during your procedure. This will be your control variable.

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