DirectProtect is an insurance provider that uses telemarketers rather than insurance agents to sell its insurance and to deal with claims. It wants to introduce its product into new markets, but before it does so, it wants to predict how successful its sales efforts will be. The marketing research firm hired to conduct the research study has six months to gather, analyze, and present its data to DirectProtect. The required time frame is an example of a:________. a. dependent variable. b. obstruction c. objective d. constraint. e. independent variable.