Final answer:
The observed result or outcome of interest in a research project is known as the dependent variable. It is what researchers measure and expect to change when the independent variable is manipulated in a study.
Step-by-step explanation:
The observed result or outcome of interest in a research project is the dependent variable. This is the variable in a scientific experiment that is affected by another variable, known as the independent variable. It is also referred to as the outcome variable because it is the output that researchers measure when they are conducting experiments.
For instance, in a sociological study where one might ask, "How does gender (the independent variable) affect rate of income (the dependent variable)?", gender is what the researcher manipulates or observes to see its impact on income levels. The change in the dependent variable is what the study aims to measure as a result of the variations in the independent variable. To put it simply, the dependent variable depends on the conditions set by the independent variable.