how do I determine what the independent and dependent variable is in a research study? As well what the standard deviation is of the variable and the dispersion for the variable. The research is focusing on a way of Assessing the exploitation experiences of girls and boys between the ages of 12-19 who have been sexually exploited that have been seen at the child advocacy center.

My first thought was that the dependent variable would be that the children were being sexually exploited and were seen at the child advocacy center. The independent would be age of the children, were they live, mental health (things that can be changed)

I have no idea how to dispersion table or the mean /standard deviation