32. As the number of hours an employee works increases, the amount of taxes withheld, the amount of retirement savings withheld, and the number of sick leave hours granted increase. Which of the following is the independent variable?
Answer: A
The independent variable is the number of hours worked.
In this context, the independent variable is the number of hours an employee works, as it is the factor that is being manipulated to observe its effect on the other variables.
A) Number of hours worked
This option is correct because it represents the variable that is changed or controlled in the experiment to test its effects on the dependent variables, which include taxes withheld, retirement savings, and sick leave hours.
B) Number of sick leave hours granted
This option is incorrect as it is a dependent variable. The number of sick leave hours is affected by the independent variable (the number of hours worked) rather than influencing it.
C) Amount of retirement savings withheld
This option is also incorrect. The amount of retirement savings withheld is determined by the number of hours worked and is therefore a dependent variable that responds to changes in the independent variable.
D) Amount of taxes withheld
This option is incorrect as well. The amount of taxes withheld is another dependent variable that changes based on the independent variable, which is the number of hours worked.
Conclusion
The independent variable is identified as the number of hours worked since it is the factor that causes changes in the other variables, such as taxes withheld, retirement savings, and sick leave hours. All other options represent outcomes that depend on the variation of the independent variable, reinforcing the essential concept of causation in experimental design.