Identifying Moderator and Mediator Variables

1) The negative impact of heavy drinking on the grade point averages of college students is accentuated by the daily use of cigarettes.

Independent variable?

Dependent variable?

Name the moderator/mediator, and explain your answer.

ANSWER:

Independent variable: level of drinking

Dependent variable: GPAs of college students

Moderator, daily cigarette smoking. The effect of smoking cigarettes accentuates the effects of heavy drinking, but does not by itself cause lower GPAs.