Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology (CBIC) Practice Exam 2025 - Free CBIC Practice Questions and Study Guide

The dependent variable represents the outcome factor that is influenced by other variables in an experiment. In research, the dependent variable is what researchers measure to assess the effect of changes in another variable, often referred to as the independent variable. The relationship between these variables is crucial for understanding how one aspect affects another, which is central to experimental design.

For instance, if a study is investigating the impact of a new medication on reducing infection rates, the infection rate would be the dependent variable, as it is expected to change in response to the administration of the medication. This makes the dependent variable essential for evaluating the success or effectiveness of an intervention and contributes to drawing conclusions from the research.

Other options reflect different aspects of variables in a study; for instance, the variable that does not change refers to the independent variable or constant factors in an experiment, while the initial measurement used for comparison pertains to baseline data. The factor that is manipulated is specifically the independent variable, which the researcher actively changes to observe its effect on the dependent variable. Understanding these distinctions reinforces the concept that the dependent variable is fundamentally about the outcomes measured in response to interventions or changes made during the study.