What is an example of an independent variable?

An independent variable is a factor that is manipulated or changed in an experiment to observe its effects on a dependent variable. In this context, age serves as a suitable example because it is typically a variable that researchers can categorize or divide to analyze its impact on different outcomes, such as health, behavior, or cognitive abilities.

For instance, if a study investigates how age affects memory retention, age would be the independent variable, while memory performance would be the dependent variable. Researchers might compare memory performance in different age groups to draw conclusions about the relationship between aging and cognitive function.

Temperature, test scores, and height do not serve as independent variables in this scenario. While they might be related to various scientific studies, they are often viewed as outcomes or dependent variables rather than factors that are manipulated to see their effects on something else. The structure of the question highlights age as a variable that is often subjected to systematic study in various contexts, making it a classic example of an independent variable.