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 independent variable in an experiment, as it is the variable that is manipulated or considered to explain changes in the dependent variable.
• The first option is incorrect because the dependent variable is what is being measured, not explanatory.
• The second option describes a level or component of an independent variable, not the explanatory variable itself.
• The third option describes a confounding variable, not an explanatory variable.

Answer:

D. the independent variable in an experiment