Frequent food questionnaires (FFQs) are often given to large groups of people to obtain information on their dietary habits. Study participants are asked about the frequency with which they consume certain goods. Another method to obtain information on foods consumed is a food diary. People are asked to record every type of food and amount consumed for a few days. Food diaries are more difficult to obtain and response rates are lower than for FFQs. A study was conducted to see how well FFQs predict food consumed based on food diaries. In this study, the explanatory variable is:
A)the amount of food consumed.
B)the amount of food consumed according to the food diary.
C)the amount of food consumed according to the FFQ.
D)dependent on the response.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The explanatory variable in the study is the amount of food consumed according to the FFQ. This is because the study is assessing how well the FFQ predicts the food consumed based on food diaries. The FFQ is the variable being tested for its ability to predict food consumption, while the food diary is the reference or comparison measure of actual food consumption. The amount of food consumed (A) may be a potential dependent variable or outcome measure, but it is not the explanatory variable in this study. The amount of food consumed according to the diary (B) is the comparison or reference measure, but it is not the variable being tested as the predictor. The response rate (D) may be a potential confounding variable, but it is not the explanatory variable that is being manipulated or measured in this study.

Frequent Food Questionnaires (FFQs) Are Often Given to Large Groups