32. A student conducted an experiment to study how the price of a product influences sales. The student decided to set up a booth along a busy street at the same time and location for two different Saturday afternoons. The student tried to make sure that the sales environment was the same each time. The student would vary the price of the product throughout the afternoon and record the number of customers and the number of products sold at each price. What is a control variable in this experiment?
Answer: C
The time of day that the booth is open
In this experiment, the time of day that the booth is open serves as a control variable. By keeping this variable constant across both Saturdays, the student can isolate the effect of price changes on sales without the influence of differing customer traffic patterns at different times.
A) The number of products sold
The number of products sold is the primary outcome variable in this experiment, not a control variable. It is what the student aims to measure in response to the varying prices, making it essential to the experiment's results rather than a factor that is controlled.
B) The price of the product
The price of the product is the independent variable being manipulated in the experiment. Since the purpose is to study how changes in price affect sales, it cannot be considered a control variable, as it varies throughout the experiment.
C) The time of day that the booth is open
The time of day that the booth is open is indeed a control variable as it is intentionally kept constant for both Saturdays. This control ensures that any differences in sales can be attributed to price changes rather than fluctuations in customer behavior at different times.
D) The total number of customers
The total number of customers is an outcome variable that the student records but does not control. This number can vary based on numerous factors, including the time of day and other external influences, so it does not serve as a control variable in the context of this experiment.
Conclusion
The correct answer, the time of day that the booth is open, is crucial for maintaining a consistent testing environment, allowing the student to accurately assess the impact of price on sales. All other options represent variables that either change throughout the experiment or are measured outcomes, which do not fit the definition of a control variable. This emphasizes the importance of controlling specific factors to ensure valid experimental results.