Short-term effects refer to the immediate impact or consequences of a certain event, action, or phenomenon within a relatively brief timeframe. In the context of research, short-term effects are typically studied to understand how a specific intervention, treatment, or change in behavior influences outcomes over a short period of time. Researchers may examine short-term effects to assess the initial response to a stimulus, identify patterns or trends, or make predictions about longer-term outcomes. Studying short-term effects can provide valuable insights into the immediate consequences of certain variables, which can inform decision-making and guide future research directions.