What term describes the measurable effect or outcome that a researcher is interested in?

The term that describes the measurable effect or outcome that a researcher is focused on is known as the dependent variable. In the context of research, the dependent variable is what is being tested and measured in an experiment. It is considered dependent because its value is expected to change in response to alterations in the independent variable, which is manipulated by the researcher.

For example, if a study aims to examine the effect of a new teaching method on student performance, student performance—often quantified through test scores—would be the dependent variable. Researchers track how variations in the teaching method (the independent variable) influence the performance outcomes.

The other terms listed relate to different concepts in research. The independent variable refers to the factor that is manipulated to observe its effect. A hypothesis is a testable prediction made before the study begins. Correlation indicates a relationship between two variables but does not imply causation. Understanding these distinctions is fundamental in psychological research methodology.