The dependent variable is the variable that will have its change measured in an experiment. For example, in a study that looked at how test scores were affected by mathematics tutoring outside of class, the dependent variable is participants’ test scores.
In a psychology experiment, researchers are studying how changes in the independent variable cause changes in the dependent variable . One way to help identify the dependent variable is to remember that it depends on the independent variable.
When researchers make changes to the independent variable, they will then measure any resulting changes in the dependent variable.
If a researcher was investigating the influences of studying on test scores, for example, the amount of study would be the independent variable and test scores would be the dependent variable. Exam scores vary according to the amount of study before exams.
