In an industrial research laboratory, Drs. French and Heinz are conducting an experiment on the effects of sugar on consumers' perception of condiment flavor. Participants are randomly assigned to a sugar-sweetened, reduced-sugar, or sugar-free group. Participants then rate condiment flavor on a variety of scales. In this experiment, flavor perception is the _____ variable.

Answer: In this experiment, flavor perception is the dependent variable. The dependent variable is the one that researchers are measuring—it is "dependent" on the independent variable(s) being manipulated in the experiment. In this case, the independent variable would be the amount of sugar in the condiments, since that is what is being changed by the researchers (sugar-sweetened, reduced-sugar, or sugar-free) and the dependent variable is the outcome they are seeking to understand (flavor perception), which is expected to change in response to the levels of sugar in the condiments.

Extra: When conducting an experiment, it's crucial to identify and distinguish between independent and dependent variables. The independent variable is the factor that the researcher changes or controls to see how it affects the dependent variable. It's what you think will cause some effect. On the other hand, the dependent variable is what you measure in the experiment and what is affected during the experiment. It's the effect or outcome that you are investigating. To remember: the independent variable is what you change, while the dependent variable is what you observe and measure. This distinction is an essential aspect of experimental design and helps ensure that the experiment can test hypotheses about cause-and-effect relationships.