Cause-and-Effect Relationship

Definition

A cause-and-effect relationship refers to the idea that changes in one variable directly influence changes in another variable. Establishing cause-and-effect means demonstrating that changes in one variable actually lead to changes in another variable.

Related terms

Independent Variable: The independent variable is the factor manipulated by the researcher during an experiment. It is considered the potential cause that may produce an effect on another variable.

Dependent Variable: The dependent variable is the outcome or response measured by the researcher. It represents the effect being studied and is expected to vary according to changes in the independent variable.

Confounding Variable: Confounding variables are uncontrolled factors that can affect the relationship between the independent and dependent variables, making it difficult to establish a clear cause-and-effect relationship.