Question

question
which of the following best describes the term explanatory variable?
select the correct answer below:
○ the dependent variable in an experiment
○ a value or component of the independent variable applied in an experiment
○ a variable that has an effect on a study even though it is neither an independent nor a dependent variable
○ the independent variable in an experiment

Explanation:

An explanatory variable is the variable in a study that is hypothesized to cause or explain changes in another variable. This is the exact definition of an independent variable in an experiment, as it is manipulated or observed to see its effect on the dependent variable. The other options are incorrect: the first option refers to the dependent variable (the outcome being measured), the second describes a level of the independent variable, and the third refers to a confounding or extraneous variable.

Answer:

the independent variable in an experiment