Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Causation refers to a cause-and-effect relationship between two variables where changes in one variable directly result in changes in another variable. Establishing causation requires rigorous evidence beyond just observing correlations.
The independent variable is the factor that is manipulated or changed by the researcher in an experiment to observe its effect on the dependent variable.
The dependent variable is the outcome or response that is measured or observed in an experiment and is affected by changes in the independent variable.
Experimental Design: Experimental design refers to the process of planning and conducting a scientific study or experiment to test hypotheses and establish causal relationships.