Review for IVs & DVs . . . You may also want to review IVs & DVs in your text from NURS 512 or another source.

Independent Variables (IVs) A variable that stands alone (is independent) & isn’t changed by other vars you are measuring Sex/gender OR age can be IVs Neither are changed by: what you eat, how much screen time you have, or if you take NSAIDS, etc. A variable that is manipulated to determine value of DV Represents the “reason” for variation in DV

Independent Variables (IVs) Sex is one IV with 2 categories (M or F) Male is not a variable; it does not vary! Female is not a variable; it does not vary! Age is one IV Here it has 3 categories (5-7yr, 8-11yrs, 12-15 yrs) But these are NOT 3 IVs Age could be continuous (any age between 5-15 like 9.5 yrs or 12.75 yrs)

Independent Variables (IVs) Treatment group is one IV; here it has 2 categories Treatment group A= Drug X Treatment group B = Usual Care (sometimes called comparison or control group)

Dependent Variables (DVs) Something that “depends” on other factors DVs can change depending on other factors It is the output or outcome whose variation is being examined It is the “O” or outcome in PICOT How well you do on your patho test (DV) depends on (or can be changed by): How much you studied, (IV-1) How much you slept, (IV-2) How anxious you are, (IV-3) And many other things! (IV-4 thru infinity)

IVs and DVs—try this example In children age 4-7 yrs, is Drug X more effective than Drug Y in reducing episodes of acute asthma? DV = ____ Measured by: IV = _____ Fill in the blanks before you go to the next slide.

Did you write down what goes in the blanks Did you write down what goes in the blanks??? It would be good to see if you know the answer.

Answers DV =episodes of acute asthma IV = Medication for asthma There are 2 categories: Drug X and Drug Y IV = there is no 2nd IV in this example: Drug Y is not the 2nd IV Age is not the 2nd IV; children age 4-7 yrs is the population enrolled in the study