Final answer:
The variable observed during an experiment to see if it is affected by another factor is called the dependent variable. The independent variable is what is changed or manipulated in the experiment.
Step-by-step explanation:
The variable that is observed during an experiment to see if it is affected by something else is called the dependent variable or outcome variable.
This variable is what the researcher measures to see how much effect the independent variable had. In any experiment, the independent variable is manipulated or changed, and its influence on the dependent variable is observed.
For example, if scientists are measuring how plant growth is affected by different amounts of fertilizer, the plant growth is the dependent variable, while the amount of fertilizer is the independent variable.