Which of the following is an example of a dependent variable?

• A. Time spent on TikTok per day.
• B. Self-reported attention in class.
• C. GPA.
• D. Hours studied.

Answer: (B)

The main idea is identifying the outcome that researchers measure to see how it changes when something else is manipulated. A dependent variable is the result you observe and quantify after applying a treatment or condition.

Self-reported attention in class fits this role because it’s the direct outcome researchers would measure to determine how attention responds to a given intervention (like a teaching method, classroom setup, or pacing). It reflects moment-to-moment variation and can be directly tied to the experimental conditions.

Time spent on TikTok per day and hours studied are behaviors that researchers often treat as predictors or controls (independent variables) to explain variation in other outcomes. GPA is a broader, longer-term outcome that can be influenced by many factors over time, and in many short-term studies it’s not the immediate measure of an experimental effect.