A variable that is presumed to cause a change in another variable is called

An independent variable is the one presumed to cause a change in another variable.

It stands as the antecedent or supposed cause in a relationship.

A categorical variable classifies cases by kind and says nothing about causation.

A dependent variable is the effect that changes, not the presumed cause.

An intervening variable mediates between cause and effect rather than initiating the change.

In experiments the independent variable is manipulated to observe its causal effect.