Answer:
(a) The research method that would be used to test this theory is an experimental method.
(b) The independent variable would be the amount of time participants spend watching cooking shows on television, and the dependent variable would be their cooking ability. Cooking ability can be measured by objective measures such as speed and accuracy in preparing dishes, as well as subjective measures such as taste and presentation.
(c) One potential confounding variable could be prior cooking experience. Participants with prior cooking experience may have a higher cooking ability regardless of the amount of time they spend watching cooking shows, whereas those without prior cooking experience may have a lower cooking ability regardless of the amount of time they spend watching cooking shows. To control for this variable, participants could be randomly assigned to groups based on their prior cooking experience, or prior cooking experience could be measured and included as a covariate in the analysis.
Step-by-step explanation: