In hypothesis testing, which statement accurately describes the relationship between independent and dependent variables?

In hypothesis testing, the independent variable is the factor that researchers change or control to see how it affects another factor, known as the dependent variable. The dependent variable is what researchers measure to see if it responds to changes in the independent variable. For example, if a sociologist wants to study how the amount of study time (independent variable) affects students' test scores (dependent variable), they would change the study time and observe any changes in the test scores. This relationship helps researchers understand cause-and-effect links in their studies. By clearly defining these variables, they can test their hypotheses effectively and draw meaningful conclusions.