Chapter 4.2, Problem 45E

To determine

To identify the explanatory and response variable in this study and then identify if it is an experiment or observational study and explain.

Answer to Problem 45E

The amount of food people eat is the response variable and the type of program is the explanatory variable and the study is observational study.

Explanation of Solution

In the given study the researchers studies that the type of program people watch influences on how much they eat or not. So in this case, the type of program in the independent variable whereas the amount of food eaten is the dependant variable as it is dependent on the type of program people watch. Thus, we can say that amount of food people eat is the response variable and the type of program is the explanatory variable.

Also, in the study the researchers are trying to gather the information without disturbing the scene they are observing. This is because they are not telling people how much to eat or when instead they are just observing it. Therefore, the study is observational study.