Question

A researcher is interested in the effect of music on memory. She randomly divides a group of students into threeâ groups: those who will listen to quietâ music, those who will listen to loudâ music, and those who will not listen to music. After the appropriate music is playedâ (or notâ played), she gives all the students a memory test. what is the explanatory variable and response variable?

Answer 1

Explanatory variable = Effect of music

Response variable = Memory response

Explanation:

An explanatory variable, also known as independent variable, is a variable that can be manipulated so as to analyse their effect on another variable. It is used to predict or explain differences in another variable.

Response variable is a variable whose variation depends on other variable. It is also called a dependent variable.

In this analogy, since the effect of music on memory is what is to be known, music is the explanatory variable while memory is a response variable.