Question

You are examining traffic stop data that have been collected by your local police department. After examining the variables from the collected data, you decide to address the question of racial profiling by examining the relationship between the productivity of the search (Did the search of the vehicle uncover illegal substances or weapons) and the race of the driver. In order to address this question, which variable should be your independent and which should be your dependent variable and why?

Answer 1

Race of the driver is independent variable because race of driver can be used as a dummy variable and its value can be changed based on race of driver. Race of driver cannot be used as a dependent variable because dependent variable cannot be a categorical variable in this case.

Productivity of the search is dependent variable because it can be changed according to the race of driver (dummy variable)

Hence, Productivity of the search is dependent and race of driver is independent variable.