Final answer:
The response variable in the study is 'reported happiness', while the explanatory variable is 'frequency of religious service attendance'. Regression analysis is often used to examine the relationship between both variables.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the context of the 2014 General Social Survey (GSS) concerning religious service attendance and reported happiness, the response variable would be the reported happiness level, as it is the outcome of interest that might be affected by the explanatory variable. The explanatory variable, in this case, is the frequency of religious service attendance. Research such as Barkan and Greenwood (2003), and Diener et al. (2011) suggests that there could be a link between religious attendance and subjective well-being.
To analyze the relationship, one would typically use regression analysis to see if there's a significant association between the frequency of attendance and happiness scores. Tables such as 15.2 from the Pew Research Center, or the GSS, are used to provide data for such analyses, controlling for variables that might influence both religious attendance and happiness.