We have a research project consisting of three variables where big data is the independent variable. Some previous studies showed that Volume, Variety, Velocity and Veracity Are the dimensions of big data.
The view of big data through the V lense was extended and it is suggested that you can use 7 Vs. However it might be more difficult to develop appropriate measurement instruments for some of the added dimensions:
Conference Paper Seven V's of Big Data understanding Big Data to extract value
To allocating participants to either drug or placebo conditions (independent variable) in order to measure any changes in the intensity of their anxiety (dependent variable). The dependent variable is the variable being tested and measured in an experiment, and is 'dependent' on the independent variable.