Which term describes the variable that the researcher measures to determine the effect of the independent variable?

Which term describes the variable that the researcher measures to determine the effect of the independent variable?

• A. Independent variable
• B. Control variable
• C. Dependent variable
• D. Confounding variable

Answer: (C)

In experiments, the outcome you measure to see how it responds when you change something is the dependent variable. It shows the effect of the manipulated factor, the independent variable. For example, if you test how fertilizer amount affects plant growth, the plant growth is the dependent variable—the thing you measure to determine the effect of changing the fertilizer amount (the independent variable). Control variables are kept constant to avoid influencing results, and confounding variables are extra factors that could unintentionally affect the outcome if not accounted for.

In experiments, the outcome you measure to see how it responds when you change something is the dependent variable. It shows the effect of the manipulated factor, the independent variable. For example, if you test how fertilizer amount affects plant growth, the plant growth is the dependent variable—the thing you measure to determine the effect of changing the fertilizer amount (the independent variable). Control variables are kept constant to avoid influencing results, and confounding variables are extra factors that could unintentionally affect the outcome if not accounted for.