Which variable is observed and measured to assess the effect of the independent variable?

• A. Independent Variable
• B. Extraneous Variable
• C. Dependent Variable
• D. Confounding Variable

Answer: (C)

The variable you observe and measure to see the effect of changing another variable is the dependent variable. It represents the outcome or result of the manipulation of the independent variable. For example, if you test how different amounts of fertilizer affect plant growth, the growth measurements (height, biomass) are the dependent variable because you record them to assess the fertilizer’s impact. Extraneous variables are other factors you want to hold constant because they could influence the result, and a confounding variable is a type of extraneous factor that unintentionally varies with the independent variable and can bias conclusions.