Experimental Study

A study in which a causal relationship between two variables[∂] is being tested. In an experimental study, the hypothesis being tested is: Variable A causes Variable B. The hypothetical "causal variable" — Variable A — is called the "independent variable." The hypothetical "affected variable" — Variable B — is called the "dependent variable."

The independent variable is directly manipulated by the researchers and the dependent variable is measured in order to determine if the manipulation of the independent variable caused changes in the dependent variable.

For example, let's say that we want test the hypothesis that consuming sugar causes children to become temporarily hyperactive. In this case, the independent variable is consuming sugar versus not consuming sugar; and the dependent variable is the amount of hyperactive behavior, .......