An economist conducted a study of the possible association between weekly income and weekly grocery expenditures. Of particular interest was whether higher income would result in shoppers spending more on groceries. A random sample of shoppers at a local supermarket was obtained. A questionnaire was administered asking about the weekly income of each shopper's family and their grocery bill for that week. The explanatory variable is:
A. weekly income.
B. weekly expenditure.
C. gender.
D. None of the answer options is correct
Answer:
A. weekly income.
Explanation:
Explanatory variables are variables that shows the difference in response variables, the explanatory variable influences the response variable. It is an independent variable that can be manipulated. The independent variable helps explain the response variable.
In this case, the explanatory variable is the weeky income because the respose variable (weekly expenditure) variation depends on it. The economist wants to use the weekly income of each shoppers family to determine how much they will spend on groceries. So, the weekly income is the explanatory variable.