In research terminology, what is a dependent variable?

A dependent variable is indeed a response variable that is influenced by other variables, particularly in the context of experiments and research studies. This variable is what researchers measure to assess the effects of independent variables—those that are manipulated or controlled in the study. For example, if a clinical trial is investigating the effect of a new drug on blood pressure, the blood pressure readings would serve as the dependent variable, as they are expected to change in response to the administration of the drug.

Understanding the role of the dependent variable is crucial in analyzing and interpreting data, as it helps researchers determine the outcomes of interventions or treatments applied during an experiment. This concept is fundamental in statistical analysis, where the relationships between variables are often explored to draw conclusions about causality or correlation.