Control variable

A variable in an experiment which is held constant in order to assess the relationship between multiple variables[lower-alpha 1], is a control variable.[1][2] A control variable is an element that is not changed throughout an experiment because its unchanging state allows better understanding of the relationship between the other variables being tested.[3]

In any system existing in a natural state, many variables may be interdependent, with each affecting the other. Scientific experiments test the relationship of an IV (or independent variable: that element that is manipulated by the experimenter) to the DV (or dependent variable: that element affected by the manipulation of the IV).[3] Any additional independent variable can be a control variable.[1]

A control variable is an experimental condition or element that is kept the same throughout the experiment, and it is not of primary concern in the experiment, nor will it influence the outcome of the experiment.[2] Any unexpected (e.g.: uncontrolled) change in a control variable during an experiment would invalidate the correlation of dependent variables (DV) to the independent variable (IV), thus skewing the results, and invalidating the working hypothesis. This indicates the presence of a spurious relationship existing within experimental parameters.[3] Unexpected results may result from the presence of a confounding variable, thus requiring a re-working of the initial experimental hypothesis. Confounding variables are a threat to the internal validity of an experiment.[4][3] This situation may be resolved by first identifying the confounding variable and then redesigning the experiment taking that information into consideration. One way to this is to control the confounding variable, thus making it a control variable. If, however, the spurious relationship cannot be identified, the working hypothesis may have to be abandoned.[3][4]

Take, for example, the well known combined gas law, which is stated mathematically as:

${\displaystyle \qquad {\frac {PV}{T}}=k}$

where:

P is the pressure

V is the volume

T is the thermodynamic temperature measured in kelvins

k is a constant (with units of energy divided by temperature).

which shows that the ratio between the pressure-volume product and the temperature of a system remains constant.

In an experimental verification of parts of the combined gas law, (P * V = T), where Pressure, Temperature, and Volume are all variables, to test the resultant changes to any of these variables requires at least one to be kept constant.[2] This is in order to see comparable experimental results in the remaining variables.

If Temperature is made the control variable and it is not allowed to change throughout the course of the experiment, the relationship between the dependent variables, Pressure, and Volume, can quickly be established by changing the value for one or the other, and this is Boyle's law. For instance, if the Pressure is raised then the Volume must decrease.

If, however, Volume is made the control variable and it is not allowed to change throughout the course of the experiment, the relationship between dependent variables, Pressure, and Temperature, can quickly be established by changing the value for one or the other, and this is Gay-Lussac's Law. For instance, if the Pressure is raised then the Temperature must increase.

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