Response Variable

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A response variable is a measured outcome within a trial which can be influenced by other factors. For example, a trial might test if a new medicine is effective at reducing a certain heart disease symptom. In this case, the reduction in this symptom will be measured and this measurement will be a response variable (also known as a dependent variable). In contrast, the new medicine is known as the independent variable, which is tested to determine if it has caused a change in the dependent variable.

Synonyms:
dependent variable, dependent variables
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