In a causal relationship, what is the term for the variable that is affected by another variable?

In a causal relationship, the term for the variable that is affected by another variable is known as the dependent variable. This variable represents the outcome or effect that is measured in an experiment or study. When researchers investigate causal relationships, they manipulate an independent variable to observe how it influences the dependent variable.

For example, if a researcher examines how studying time impacts exam scores, the exam scores are the dependent variable because they depend on how much time the individual spends studying. Understanding this distinction is essential in fields like sociology, where researchers often seek to identify the relationships and effects of various social factors on behavior and outcomes.

The other terms like independent variable refer to the factor that is manipulated, while confounding variables can obscure the true relationship by introducing alternative explanations. Control variables are factors that are kept constant to avoid influencing the results. However, the focus here is clearly on the dependent variable, which directly reflects the changes caused by other variables in the study.