What does the dependent variable represent in an experiment?

The dependent variable represents the outcome factor being measured in an experiment. This is the variable that researchers observe and record to assess the effects of changes made to the independent variable. Essentially, it reflects the results that come from the manipulation of the independent variable. For instance, if a researcher is studying how different amounts of sunlight affect plant growth, the growth of the plants is the dependent variable since it is what they measure to see how it changes as they manipulate the amount of sunlight.

In contrast, the independent variable is the one that is manipulated or altered. A constant variable refers to factors that are kept the same throughout the experiment to ensure that any changes in the dependent variable can be attributed solely to the manipulation of the independent variable. The control factor is a standard used for comparison, which also does not change throughout the experiment. This distinction is essential for understanding the structure of scientific experiments and identifies how variables play specific roles in research.