what is a explanatory variable

An explanatory variable is a type of independent variable that is manipulated or observed for changes in a research study. It is the expected cause of the results and explains the changes in the response variable. In contrast, a response variable is a type of dependent variable that changes as a result of the explanatory variable. It is the expected effect and responds to the changes in the explanatory variable. Explanatory variables are often used in regression analyses to predict or account for changes in response variables. In real-world contexts, independent variables are often influenced by other variables, so the term "explanatory variable" is preferred over "independent variable".