Components of the Investigatory Problem
The Research Problem
A good research problem shows the specific factors to be tested, observed, and measured. These factors are referred to as variables.
There are two main kinds of variables: dependent and independent. The dependent variable is the factor that is being tested in an experiment, while the independent variable is the factor that is applied to the experimental unit and can be changed by the experimenter. As its name states, the dependent variable relies or depends on the changes made on the independent variable.
Example
An experimenter wants to find out if fruit flies are attracted only to certain kinds of fruits, and not to all fruits. The fruit flies are the dependent variable while the kinds of fruits, which the experimenter can change, make up the independent variable.
