A mediating variable is often called ______.

A) an independent variable
B) a dependent variable
C) a confounding variable
D) none of these

A mediating variable is a variable that explains the relationship between two other variables. It is not independent, as it is affected by the independent variable and it is not dependent, as it does not directly affect the dependent variable. It is also not confounding, as it is not an extraneous variable that may affect the relationship between the independent and dependent variables.