What is the primary role of dependent variables in sociological research?

In sociological research, dependent variables are the outcomes or effects that researchers want to study and understand. They depend on other factors, called independent variables, which are the causes or influences. For example, if a researcher is studying how education level (independent variable) affects income (dependent variable), the income is what they measure to see if it changes based on different education levels. This helps researchers see patterns and make conclusions about relationships between different social factors. By understanding dependent variables, sociologists can better explain how and why certain social phenomena occur.