Which variable is considered the dependent variable?

The dependent variable is defined as the variable that is measured in response to changes made to other variables within an experiment. This is crucial because the primary aim of any experimental study is to observe how variations in the independent variable (the manipulated variable) will affect the dependent variable. For instance, if researchers alter the amount of light a plant receives (the independent variable), they would measure the growth of the plant (the dependent variable) to determine the effect of light on growth.

Measuring the dependent variable allows researchers to collect data that can be analyzed for trends, relationships, or effects, thus providing insight into the hypotheses being tested. This foundational understanding of dependent and independent variables is vital for effectively designing experiments and interpreting results in the field of animal behavior, as well as in broader scientific inquiry.