Fill in the Blanks Research Variables...Online version Fill in the Gaps. Hint: Use your textbook to find what the words mean... by Alan Ramsay 1 experimental dependent confounding outcome independent The variable is believed to cause or influence the other variable ( s ) . This variable is manipulated in research to observe its effect . For example in the question " Is the number of antenatal visits attended by pregnant women associated with improved labour and delivery outcomes ? " , the number of antenatal visits attended by pregnant women would be this type of variable . The variable is the presumed or effect believed to be caused by the other variable . A variable which may distort the results is called a variable .