Variable refers to a dimension along which people, things, or events differ.
In the psychology context, a variable refers to a characteristic or factor that can vary or change. Variables are an important part of scientific research because they can be manipulated or measured in order to test hypotheses or examine relationships.
Here are a few examples of variables in the psychology context:
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Independent variable: An independent variable is a variable that is manipulated or controlled by the researcher in an experiment. For example, in a study on the effects of caffeine on attention, caffeine intake would be the independent variable.
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Dependent variable: A dependent variable is a variable that is measured or observed in an experiment. The dependent variable is thought to be affected by the independent variable. In the caffeine study example, attention would be the dependent variable.
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Control variable: A control variable is a variable that is held constant or controlled for in an experiment. Control variables are used to ensure that any changes observed in the dependent variable are due to the manipulation of the independent variable, and not some other factor. In the caffeine study example, factors such as age, gender, and baseline attention level might be controlled variables.
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Moderator variable: A moderator variable is a variable that influences the relationship between the independent and dependent variables. For example, in the caffeine study example, individual differences in caffeine metabolism might be a moderator variable, meaning that the relationship between caffeine intake and attention might vary depending on how quickly a person metabolizes caffeine.
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Mediator variable: A mediator variable is a variable that explains the relationship between the independent and dependent variables. In other words, it helps to "mediate" or "mediate" the relationship between the two variables. For example, in the caffeine study example, changes in brain chemistry or neural activity might be mediator variables that help to explain how caffeine affects attention.