What is the term for a variable that is presumed to change based on another variable's influence?

The term describing a variable that is presumed to change based on another variable's influence is the dependent variable. In research, particularly within the context of experimental and correlational studies, the dependent variable is what the researcher observes or measures to see if it changes in response to variations in the independent variable. Essentially, the dependent variable is the outcome that researchers are interested in explaining or predicting.

For instance, if a study investigates the effects of a specific educational program on student performance, the students' performance (often measured through test scores) would be the dependent variable, as it is expected to change as a result of the educational program (the independent variable). Understanding this relationship helps researchers to draw conclusions and make inferences about causality and the effects of different factors on an outcome of interest.