In sociological research, the variable that is manipulated or changed to observe its effect on another variable is known as the __________.

In sociological research, the variable that is manipulated or changed to see how it affects another variable is called the independent variable. Researchers choose this variable to test its impact on a different variable, known as the dependent variable. For example, if a researcher wants to study how different teaching methods affect student performance, the teaching method would be the independent variable. By changing the teaching method, the researcher can observe any changes in student performance, which is the dependent variable. This process helps sociologists understand relationships between different factors in society.