What does the dependent variable in an experimental study refer to?

The dependent variable in an experimental study is fundamentally the variable that is measured to assess the effect of the independent variable. In an experiment, researchers manipulate the independent variable to see how it affects another variable. The dependent variable is what the researcher observes and records to determine if there is any change or effect due to the manipulation.

For instance, if an experiment is designed to assess the impact of a new teaching method (independent variable) on student test scores (dependent variable), the test scores represent the outcomes that are measured to see if the teaching method has a significant effect. This relationship ensures that any changes in the dependent variable can be attributed directly to alterations in the independent variable, allowing for conclusions about causality to be drawn from the study.

This understanding of the dependent variable is critical for properly evaluating experimental results and helps ensure that interpretations of outcomes align with the manipulations that were performed.