Final answer:
The response variable, also known as the dependent or outcome variable, is affected by the manipulation of the independent or explanatory variable in an experiment.
Step-by-step explanation:
The variable that is possibly affected by another variable in an experiment is known as the response variable. This response variable is the observed outcome that may change when the experimenter manipulates the independent variable. The independent variable is also referred to as the explanatory variable. It is the one that the researcher changes or controls to study its impact on the response variable. Control variables are other variables that are kept constant to ensure a fair test. In a study, for example, if the explanatory variable is 'the size of the tableware' and the treatment is 'tableware that is 20 percent smaller than normal,' the response variable would be 'the amount of food eaten' by the sample population. To confirm causation, experiments must be designed to rule out the influence of lurking variables and ideally include the random assignment of subjects to treatment groups.