What is an outcome variable?

An outcome variable is a variable that represents the result or incidence of a particular event or situation in a study or experiment. It is the variable that researchers are interested in measuring and analyzing to determine the effects of independent variables on it.

Outcome variables can be qualitative or quantitative in nature, depending on the type of data being collected. Qualitative outcome variables represent categories or characteristics, whereas quantitative outcome variables represent numerical data that can be measured or counted.

In a research study, the outcome variable is often the focus of the study, as researchers aim to understand the relationship between independent variables and the outcome variable. The outcome variable is typically measured at the end of the study to assess the impact of interventions, treatments, or other factors.

Some examples of outcome variables include test scores, survey responses, diagnoses, mortality rates, and other measurable outcomes that reflect the effectiveness of an intervention or the presence of a particular condition or behavior. It is important to carefully define and select outcome variables in research studies to ensure the validity and reliability of the study results.