A researcher who is interested in the effect of price on perceived quality gives a group of 50 students sneakers which are described to them as "expensive," while another group of 50 students received the very same sneakers which are described to them as "discount." The students are then asked to rate the perceived quality of the sneakers on a scale using only one of the following values (0 = poor quality, 1 = satisfactory quality, 2 = good quality, 3 = very good quality, 4 = superior quality) to see if there is a difference based on the description. a) What is the independent variable?

b) What is the dependent variable?

c) Is the dependent variable discrete or continuous?

d) What scale of measurement (nominal, ordinal, interval, or ratio) is used to measure the dependent variable?

e) What research method is being used - experimental or observational- and why?