Final answer:
The primary variable of interest in a bivariate study is the response variable (y), also known as the dependent variable, which is affected by the manipulation of the independent variable (x).
Step-by-step explanation:
In a bivariate study, the variable that is considered to be the primary variable of interest is the response variable (y). The response variable, also known as the dependent variable, is the variable in a scientific experiment that is affected by another variable called the independent variable or explanatory variable (x). The independent variable is manipulated or controlled by the researcher, while the response variable is what changes as a result of that manipulation.
The experimental study seeks to measure the effects of the independent variable on the dependent variable. Basically, the question we ask here is: What effect does the independent variable have on the dependent variable? In a graph, the independent variable is typically plotted along the x-axis, and the dependent variable along the y-axis. Through this study, one can show or disprove causation between the two variables.
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