Glossary / Lexicon

A dependent variable is what you measure in the experiment and what is affected during the experiment.

The dependent variable responds to the independent variable. It is called dependent because it "depends" on the independent variable. In a scientific experiment, you cannot have a dependent variable without an independent variable; it is the variable being measured, so-called because it may depend on manipulations of the independent variable.

Description

In psychology, the dependent variable is the variable being measured and tested in an experiment. It is the outcome or result that may change as a result of manipulating the independent variable. The dependent variable is often the focus of the study and what researchers are trying to understand or explain. It is used to assess the impact of the independent variable on behavior or mental processes. Researchers carefully design studies to ensure that changes in the dependent variable can be attributed to changes in the independent variable. The dependent variable is crucial for drawing conclusions about causal relationships between variables in psychology research. It is typically represented on the y-axis in graphs and charts, showing how it changes in response to different conditions or manipulations.

Application Areas

• Clinical psychology
• Social psychology
• Cognitive psychology
• Developmental psychology
• Experimental psychology

Treatment and Risks

• Treatments aimed at changing or influencing the dependent variable may include therapy, interventions, or behavioral modifications.
• Risks associated with studying the dependent variable include potential ethical concerns, unintended consequences, or misinterpretation of results.

Examples

• Depression scores in a study testing the effectiveness of a new therapy
• Reaction times in a cognitive task investigating attentional processes
• Aggression levels in a study examining the impact of violent video games

Similar Concepts and Synonyms

• Outcome variable
• Criterion variable
• Measured variable
• Endogenous variable
• Response variable

Articles with 'Dependent variable' in the title

• Independent variable: Independent variable: Independent variable refers to the input or stimulus that is manipulated or observed. It is controlled by the tester- Other /More definition: independent variable refers to phenomenon manipulated by the experimenter . . .
• Composite dependent variable: Composite dependent variable refers to a measure of behavior that combines the results of several dependent variables into one measure of overall performance
• Manipulated independent variable: Manipulated independent variable: Manipulated independent variable refers to an independent variable for which participants have been randomly assigned to an experimental group

Summary

The dependent variable is the variable being measured in an experiment in psychology. It represents the outcome that may be influenced by changes in the independent variable. Researchers focus on understanding how the dependent variable changes in response to different conditions or manipulations. It is a crucial component in drawing conclusions about causal relationships in psychology research.

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