What describes a dependent variable in an experiment?

A dependent variable in an experiment is the factor that is measured or observed to assess the effect of changes made to the independent variable. It is the outcome that researchers are interested in, which indicates how it responds as the independent variable is manipulated. For example, in a study examining how fertilizer affects plant growth, the growth of the plants is the dependent variable, as it changes based on the amount or type of fertilizer used (the independent variable). This relationship highlights the dependence of the measured outcome on the experimental conditions set by the researcher.