In an industrial research laboratory, Drs. French and Heinz are conducting an experiment on the effects of sugar on consumers' perception of condiment flavor. Participants are randomly assigned to a sugar-sweetened, reduced-sugar, or sugar-free group. Participants then rate condiment flavor on a variety of scales. In this experiment, flavor perception is the variable.

Dependent variable

Explanation:

The dependent variable can be defined as the variable been investigated in the course of an experiment. It usually portrays the outcome of an experiment, if it isn't the outcome itself.

From the research done in the question, flavor perception (of customers) is the dependent variable as it is the variable being investigated.

NOTE: An independent variable is the variable that is intentionally or unintentionally altered by the researcher him/herself but IS NOT affected by any other variable. The independent variable here are the participants.