Which of the following describes the dependent variable in an experiment?

In an experiment, the dependent variable is the element that researchers measure to assess the impact of manipulating another variable, known as the independent variable. This measurement provides data on how changes in the independent variable affect outcomes. For instance, if an experiment is testing the effects of a specific drug on anxiety levels, the anxiety levels would be the dependent variable, as they are measured to see how they change with different doses of the drug.

In the context of the other choices, the first option refers to the independent variable, which is the one manipulated by the researcher to observe potential changes in the dependent variable. The third option describes controlled variables, which are important for ensuring that the experiment is valid and that other factors do not influence the outcome. The fourth option pertains to the allocation of participants to different groups, which is often done randomly to eliminate bias but does not define what constitutes the dependent variable itself.