manipulated variable
nounUK /məˈnɪpjʊleɪtɪd ˈveəriəbl/
US /məˈnɪpjəleɪtɪd ˈveriəbl/
The thing a scientist changes on purpose in an experiment to see what happens.
In our plant experiment, the manipulated variable was the amount of water each plant got.
SYNONYMS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. The factor in a study that the researcher adjusts to observe its effect on another factor.
The manipulated variable in the sleep study was the number of hours participants slept.
3. In math, a value that is changed on purpose to see how it affects an outcome.
She treated the price as a manipulated variable to see how sales changed.
4. A setting or condition that a person deliberately alters during a test.
The engineer changed the manipulated variable, temperature, to test the metal's strength.