TIPPED is the dependent variable within this study since it is the outcome variable. Tip size is the effect and is caused by the presence or absence of credit card insignia. In true experiments the participants' behavior is the dependent variable and the DV values (e.g. tip%) depends on the participants' behavior. True experiments are where the experimenter can randomly assign participants to be exposed to whatever cause the experimenter wants to study (like credit card stimuli) and the DV is some aspect of the participant.

In correlational studies, particularly those using subject variables like gender, age, race, height, right or left handedness, and so on the experimenter cannot randomly assign the participants to have those types of characteristics. Therefore in correlational studies some aspect of the participants can be used as an independent variable so you cannot reliably identify the dependent variable as some part of the participant like you can in a true experiment.  (If you want to read more about this go to the middle of the PRAH page and start reading here> Subject variables are subjective characteristics of the participants, personal characteristics that cannot be randomly assigned to the participants by the experimenter.

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