What term refers to variables that are actively manipulated to observe their effect during an experiment?

The term that refers to variables that are actively manipulated in an experiment to observe their effect is independent variables. These are the factors that researchers change to determine if they produce an effect on other variables, specifically the dependent variables. By adjusting the independent variables, the researcher can measure the outcome and see how it impacts the results of the experiment. This systematic manipulation allows for the establishment of cause-and-effect relationships.

In contrast, controlled variables are kept constant throughout the experiment to ensure that any observed effects can be attributed solely to the independent variable. Dependent variables are what researchers measure in response to changes in the independent variables, and extraneous variables are all other variables that could potentially influence the outcome if not controlled, thus introducing noise into the data. Understanding the role of independent variables is crucial for designing experiments and interpreting findings.