In a sociological study, which of the following best describes the role of independent variables?

In a sociological study, independent variables are the factors that researchers change or manipulate to see how they affect other variables. They are considered the cause in a cause-and-effect relationship. For example, if a researcher wants to study how education level impacts income, the education level is the independent variable, while income is the dependent variable that may change based on different education levels. Understanding independent variables helps researchers identify patterns and make predictions about social behavior. By carefully controlling these variables, sociologists can better understand the relationships between different aspects of society.