Chapter 4.2, Problem 54E

To determine

To identify the explanatory and response variables, the experimental units and the treatments.

Answer to Problem 54E

The cost of the food is the explanatory variable and the customer evaluation and appreciation of food is the response variable and the total $139$ subjects in the Italian-all-you-can-eat buffet are the experimental units and the people assigned for the study are asked to pay $\$4\text{ or }\$8$ for the buffet and also asked to rate the quality of the pizza on the scale are the treatments.

Explanation of Solution

In the study, researchers are trying to find out that if the cost of the meal affect the consumer evaluation and appreciation of food or not. Thus, in this case, the cost of the meal is the independent variable and the customer evaluation and appreciation of food is the dependent variable as it is dependent on the cost of the food. Therefore, the cost of the food is the explanatory variable and the customer evaluation and appreciation of food is the response variable.

And the subjects on which the experiment is conducted are the experimental units. In this case, the total $139$ subjects in the Italian-all-you-can-eat buffet are the experimental units. Now, the treatments are what is imposed onto the subjects. Thus, in this case the people assigned for the study are asked to pay $\$4\text{ or }\$8$ for the buffet and also asked to rate the quality of the pizza on the scale are the treatments.