RESEARCH

Integrated Process Skills:

Identifying and Defining Variables
for Special Science High School
Grade 7
Quarter 2 / Week 2
 FOREWORD

This self-learning kit is a ready to use material for the

learners to develop and enhance their skills in research. This will
serve as a guide in designing a relevant experiment using
integrated process skillls.

In this learning kit, the students will gain knowledge in

identifying and defining variables.

This learning kit is composed of three parts:

I. What Happened. This section provides activities that will

prepare learners to the discussion of the topic provided in this
material.

II. What I Need To Know. This is the discussion section of the SLK.
Exercises after the discussion are also provided to further enrich
student’s learning of the topic.

III. What Have I Learned. This portion will gauge student’s

learning and will determine how much the learner has learned .

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LEARNING COMPTENCIES:
Identify variables that can affect an experimental outcome.

OBJECTIVES:
K: Differentiate between dependent, independent, and control
variables as well as identify each in a given experiment.
S: Identify the independent variable, dependent variable and
control in an experiment.
A: Develop perseverance in identifying and defining variables
through answering the activities correctly.

I. WHAT HAPPENED

PRE-ACTIVITIES/PRE-TEST:

Instructions: Identify the word in each item by filling up the

blanks based on the given definition.

1. V IA E
Factors in an experiment that change or potentially change.

2. ND EN T
Something that is changed.

3. DE EN E T
Something that might be affected by the change and
measured.

4. ON OL
A variable that is not changed and stays the same.

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II. WHAT I NEED TO KNOW (DISCUSSION)

Identifying and Defining Variables

Once you have brainstormed research

problem, narrowed down the list, and reviewed
the research related to that narrowed list, select a
topic that seems most appealing to you. However,
this research problem is not set in stone yet. After
you begin working through the research, you may
realize that the topic needs to be revised, or even
entirely changed to a different topic. The next
step is to identify and define the key variables and
the research design. (Korb, 2012)

https://study.com/academy/lesson/identifying-interpreting-
independentdependent-variables.html

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Variables
A variable is any parameter in the experiment that can
change. This could be a parameter like temperature, weight
or height, or it could be more complex, such as life
expectancy or growth rate. Depending on how you set up
your experiment, you will use different kinds of variables.
There are three basic types to be familiar with. (Friedl, 2014)

Types of Variables

1. Independent variable
This is the variable that is manipulated during an
experiment. For example, when experimenting with how
fertilizer affects plant growth, the fertilizer is the independent
variable because this is the variable that you change. It
might help to think of the independent variable as the cause
of change in the experiment.

2. Dependent variable
Is the variable that is affected during an experiment. In
our experiment, our dependent variable would be plant
growth since this is affected by the amount of fertilizer
applied. If you think of the independent variable as the
cause, then the dependent variable is the effect.

3. Control variable
This is a variable that is controlled during and between
experiments. In our fertilizer experiment, we would control for
the amount of sunlight received by each plant. Control
variables are very important because they allow a scientist
to know that the experiment is only testing what they want to
test. Depending on the complexity, some experiments will
have many control variables, while others will have none.

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Examples

1. A study was done to find if different tire treads affect

the braking distance of a car.
Independent: tire treads
Dependent: braking distance
Control: type of car

2. The time it takes to run a mile depends on the person’s

running speed.
Independent: running speed
Dependent: time
Control: terrain

3. The height of bean plants depends on the amount of

water they receive.
Independent: amount of water
Dependent: height
Control: sunlight, soil

4. The higher the temperature of the air in the oven, the

faster a cake will bake.
Independent: temperature
Dependent: speed
Control: type of pan

5. Lemon trees receiving the most water produced the

most lemons.
Independent: amount of water
Dependent: number of lemons
Control: sunlight, soil

https://study.com/academy/lesson/identifying-interpreting-independent-
dependent-variables.html

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APPLICATION

Instructions: In each item below, determine the independent,

dependent and control variables.

1. A student wanted to test how the mass of a paper airplane

affected the distance it would fly. Paper clips were added before
each test flight. As each paper clip was added, the plane was
tested to determine how far it would fly.
Independent variable: ___________________________
Dependent variable: ___________________________
Control: _________________________________________

2. Two groups of students were tested to compare their speed

working math problems. Each group was given the same
problems. One group used calculators and the other group
computed without calculators.
Independent variable: __________________________
Dependent variable: ____________________________
Control: _________________________________________

3. Students of different ages were given the same puzzle to

assemble. The puzzle assembly time was measured.
Independent variable: __________________________
Dependent variable: ____________________________
Control: _________________________________________

4. An experiment was performed to determine how the amount of

coffee grounds could affect the taste of coffee. The same kind of
coffee, the same percolator, the same amount and type of
water, the same perking time, and the same electrical sources
were used.
Independent variable: __________________________
Dependent variable: ____________________________
Control: _________________________________________

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REFLECTION

Instructions: Complete the phrases found inside the banner.

Write your answers in your notebook.

I have learned that___________________________________

__________________________________________________

I realized that _______________________________________

__________________________________________________

I will apply _________________________________________

___________________________________________________

III. WHAT HAVE I LEARNED

POST TEST:
Instructions: Choose the letter of the correct answer and
write it in your notebook.

1. An image, perception or concept that is capable of

measurement is called__________.
A. research
B. observing
C. variable
D. inferring

2. An Independent variable can be defined as

___________.
A. Extraneous variable
B. Change variable
C. Effect variable
D. Formulate hypothesis

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 Answer questions 3, 4, and 5 by reading the paragraph given
below.

The effects on tomato production of leaves mixed in with the

soil are being investigated. In the research an identical quantity
and type of soil was placed in four large pots. However, 15 kg of
mulched leaves were added to the first pot, 10 kg to the second
and 5 kg to the third. No mulched leaves were added to the
fourth pot. Tomatoes were then planted in these pots. All the pots
were placed in sunlight and watered identically. Tomatoes
obtained from each pot were weighed and recorded.

3. What is/are the controlled variable(s) in this research?

a. The amount of tomatoes obtained from each pot.
b. The amount of leaves mixed into the pots.
c. The amount of soil in the pots.
d. The number of pots with mulched leaves added.
4. What is the dependent variable in this research?
a. The amount of tomatoes obtained from each pot.
b. The amount of leaves mixed in the pots.
c. The amount of soil in the pots.
d. The number of pots with mulched leaves added.
5. What is the independent variable in research?
a. The amount of tomatoes obtained from each pot.
b. The amount of leaves mixed in the pots.
c. The amount of soil in the pots.
d. The number of pots with mulched leaves added

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 REFERENCES

Friedl, S. (2014). Identifying & Interpreting Independent &

Dependent Variables. (2014, June 24). Retrieved from
https://study.com/academy/lesson/identifying-interpreting-
independent-dependent-variables.html.

Korb, K. (2014). Conducting Educational Research. Retrieved from

http://korbedpsych.com/R00Steps.html.

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SYNOPSIS

After going through this self- learning kit, you should

be able to identify and define variables.

ANSWER KEY
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
PRE-TEST
1. VARIABLE
RUEL T. FABURADA is a Grade 7 2. INDEPENDENT
3. DEPENDENT
Math and Research teacher of 4. CONTROL
Zamboanguita Science High School Application
(ZSHS). He obtained his Bachelor of 1. I: mass of paper airplane
D: distance
Secondary Education major in C: paper airplane
Mathematics at Negros Oriental State 2. I: use of calculators
D: speed
University (NORSU) year 2014 and C: group
3. I: age of student
completed his academic requirements D: time
with his Master of Arts in Mathematics C: paper airplane
4. I: amount of coffee
Teaching of the same university. D: taste of coffee
C: coffee, percolator,
water

POST-TEST
MARY CRIS B. TRUPA is a Grade 8 1. C
2. B
English teacher of Zamboanguita 3. D
Science High School (ZSHS). She 4. A
5. B
obtained her Bachelor of Secondary
Education major in English at Northern
Bukidnon Community College year
2014.

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 DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
SCHOOLS DIVISION OF NEGROS ORIENTAL

SENEN PRISCILLO P. PAULIN, CESO V

Schools Division Superintendent

FAY C. LUAREZ, TM, Ed.D., Ph.D.

OIC - Assistant Schools Division Superintendent
Acting CID Chief

ADOLF P. AGUILAR
OIC - Assistant Schools Division Superintendent

NILITA L. RAGAY, Ed.D.

OIC - Assistant Schools Division Superintendent

ROSELA R. ABIERA
Education Program Supervisor – (LRDMS)

ARNOLD R. JUNGCO
Education Program Supervisor – (SCIENCE & MATH)

MARICEL S. RASID
Librarian II (LRMDS)

ELMAR L. CABRERA
PDO II (LRMDS)

RUEL T. FABURADA
MARY CRIS B. TRUPA
Writer

GERALD T. UBAG
Lay-out Artist
_________________________________
ALPHA AND BETA QA
Ana Melissa T. Venido

DISCLAIMER

The information, activities and assessments used in this material are designed to provide to provide
accessible learning modality to the teachers and learners of the Division of Negros Oriental. The contents of
this module are carefully researched, chosen, and evaluated to comply with the set of learning competencies.
The writers and evaluator were clearly instructed to give credits to information and illustrations used to
substantiate this material. All content is subject to copyright and may not be reproduced in any form without
expressed written consent from the division.

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