In statistics, what is a dependent variable?

The dependent variable is a fundamental concept in statistics that refers to the variable being measured or tested in an experiment. It is the outcome that researchers are interested in, as it changes in response to variations in the independent variable. The independent variable is the factor that is manipulated or altered to observe how it influences the dependent variable.

For example, if researchers are studying the impact of different amounts of sunlight on plant growth, the amount of growth (measured in height or biomass) is the dependent variable. It is dependent on how much sunlight the plants receive; as the amount of sunlight changes, the plant growth will respond accordingly. This relationship is crucial in experimental design, as it helps establish cause-and-effect dynamics within scientific investigations.