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
A cause and effect relationship refers to the idea that changes in one variable (the cause) directly result in changes in another variable (the effect). It allows researchers to determine whether one variable actually causes changes in another.
Correlation describes the statistical relationship between two variables, but it does not imply causation. Just because two variables are correlated does not mean that one causes the other.
The independent variable is the manipulated variable in an experiment that is believed to have an impact on another variable. It is often considered the 'cause' variable.
The dependent variable is the measured outcome or response that may be influenced by changes in the independent variable. It is often considered the 'effect' variable.