control variables
Held-steady factors
Control variables are factors held constant in an experiment to isolate the effect of the variable being tested.
If you're studying how light affects plant growth, soil type and water amount are control variables—kept the same across all conditions so they don't confound results.
The term extends to statistical analysis, where control variables are factors accounted for mathematically to clarify relationships between variables of interest.
- constantsUnchanging fixed values
- experimentSystematic investigation procedure
- isolateSeparate from others
- experimental setupArranged conditions for investigation
- blockingImpeding forward progress
placebo group · confounding · noise reduction · manipulation · hypothesis · methodologies · intervention · research design · operationalization · randomization · standardization · data collection · measurement error · empirical data · reproducibility · statistical analysis · scientific method · accuracy
control variablesindependent variables
Factors manipulated in experiments
dependent variables · IV · DV · factors
control variablesconfounding variables
Uncontrolled factors skewing results
control, controls, controlled, controlling, controller, controllers, controllable, uncontrollable, uncontrolled