Final answer:
Studying the behavioral changes that occur right after a change in an independent variable is known as studying immediate effects. It helps to isolate the direct impact of the variable change.
Step-by-step explanation:
When research focuses on the behavioral changes that occur immediately after a change in the level of an independent variable, this is known as studying immediate effects. By analyzing these immediate effects, researchers can understand the direct impact that the manipulation of the independent variable has on the dependent variable without the delays that might complicate interpretation.
In experiments, the independent variable is manipulated to observe its effect on the dependent variable. If a student notes an immediate behavioral change after this manipulation, they are observing the immediate effect of the independent variable on the dependent variable. For instance, if a study aims to look at the change in attention span after intake of a certain food supplement (independent variable), then noting the changes in attention immediately after consumption would be concerned with immediate effects.