The nurse develops the following hypothesis: Elderly women receive less aggressive treatment for breast cancer than do younger women. Which variable would be considered to be the dependent variable?
A. Degree of treatment received.
B. Age of the patient.
C. Type of cancer being treated.
D. Use of inpatient treatment.
Correct Answer: A. Degree of treatment received.
The degree of treatment received is considered the dependent variable. Dependent variable is the variable that depends on other factors that are measured. These variables are expected to change as a result of experimental manipulation of the independent variable or variables. It is the presumed effect.
Option B: The age of the patient is an independent variable. Independent variable is the variable that is stable and unaffected by the other variables the researcher is trying to measure. It refers to the condition of an experiment that is systematically manipulated by the investigator. It is the presumed cause.
Option C: The type of cancer being treated can be a predictor variable. Predictor variables can be used to predict the value of a dependent variable. Predictor variable is the name given to an independent variable used in regression analyses. The predictor variable provides information on an associated dependent variable regarding a particular outcome. At the most fundamental level, predictor variables are variables that are linked with particular outcomes.
Option D: The use of inpatient treatment is not specified. Researchers often use charts or graphs to visualize the results of their studies. The norm is to place the independent variable on the “x” or horizontal axis and the dependent variable on the “y” or vertical axis.