Why do you really want to deal with this issue?
Ludwik Kowalski
Not a bad question! The syllabus that I teach states,
"A student: justifies the appropriateness of a particular investigation
plan:
11.2 plan first-hand investigations to:
a) demonstrate the use of the terms ‘dependent‘ and ‘independent‘ to
describe variables involved in the investigation
b) identify variables that needed to be kept constant, develop strategies
to ensure that these variables are kept constant,
and demonstrate the use of a control"
It is highly likely that these concepts will be tested in some form or
other and so I have some concern about whether my students can meet the
syllabus requirements. The wording of the syllabus also means that I
cannot use substitute terminology except as an explanatory note, as the
students will be tested using the syllabus language. The final examination
is a state test that I have no control over.
Despite using some examples and discussing "cause and effect", a number of
students still identify the variables back to front. That is, they are
calling the dependent variable "independent" and the independent variable
"dependent".