Final answer:
In the research study about the impact of mood on generosity, mood is the independent variable manipulated by watching different genres of movies, while generosity is the dependent variable measured by the participants' willingness to help move boxes.
Step-by-step explanation:
To test the impact of mood on generosity, a researcher has participants watch different movies to elicit different emotional responses, and then measures their willingness to help with a task. In this study, the mood of the participants induced by the movies is the independent variable, which is the variable that is manipulated by the researcher. The response of the participants, specifically their level of generosity or willingness to help move the boxes, is the dependent variable - the outcome that is measured to see the effect of the manipulated variable.
In the study testing the impact of mood on generosity, the independent variable is the mood induced by different movies, manipulated by the researcher to elicit distinct emotional responses. The participants' varying emotional states serve as the catalyst for the experimental manipulation. On the other hand, the dependent variable is the participants' willingness to help with a task, specifically their level of generosity. This is the outcome measured by the researcher to assess the effect of the manipulated independent variable.
By manipulating the independent variable (movie-induced mood) and observing the resulting changes in the dependent variable (willingness to help), the researcher can draw conclusions about the influence of mood on generosity. This experimental design allows for the investigation of causal relationships between mood states and pro-social behavior, contributing valuable insights into the intricate connections between emotions and human behavior.