Which term refers to the outcome of a study that is measured?

The outcome of a study that is measured is referred to as the dependent variable. In psychological research and experimentation, the dependent variable is what the researcher observes and measures to assess the effects of manipulating the independent variable. It reflects the response or results that occur due to changes made in the independent variable, allowing researchers to draw conclusions about cause-and-effect relationships.

For instance, if a study is examining the effect of sleep deprivation on cognitive performance, the cognitive performance scores would be the dependent variable, as these are the results being measured to see how they vary with different levels of sleep. This distinction is fundamental in experimental design, as it helps clarify how various factors interact and enables researchers to better understand their findings.