A dependent variable is a key concept in research and experiments. It is the outcome or effect that researchers measure to see how it changes in response to different conditions. For example, in a study examining how study hours affect test scores, the test scores would be the dependent variable, as they depend on the number of hours studied. In simple terms, the dependent variable is what you are trying to understand or predict. It relies on the independent variable, which is the factor you manipulate. Understanding dependent variables helps researchers draw conclusions about relationships between different factors in their studies.