dependent variable
dependent variable n.
In research methods and statistics, a variable that is potentially liable to be influenced by one or more independent variables. The purpose of an experiment is typically to determine whether one or more independent variables influence one or more dependent variables in a predicted manner. In multiple regression, a set of independent or predictor variables are combined in a linear model to provide a best prediction of a dependent variable, which is sometimes called a criterion variable. See also intervening variable. DV abbrev.