What does a dependent variable represent in research?

A dependent variable represents the outcome or effect that is measured in a study. In research, it reflects changes that occur as a response to the manipulation of an independent variable. The dependent variable is what researchers are ultimately interested in understanding, as it allows them to assess the impact of changes or interventions introduced in the independent variable.

For instance, if a researcher is studying how different levels of advertising expenditure (independent variable) affect sales revenue (dependent variable), the sales revenue is the outcome that varies based on the level of advertising spent. Thus, the focus of the analysis is on how the dependent variable responds to variations in the independent variable, making it pivotal to the research outcomes and conclusions drawn.