According to the study regarding a sense of belonging, what was manipulated to observe its impact on academic confidence?

The manipulation of the number of friends listed allows researchers to assess how social connections impact an individual's sense of belonging, which can subsequently influence academic confidence. By varying the perceived level of social support or connections, the study can investigate whether those with a greater number of friends report higher levels of academic confidence. This approach assumes that individuals who feel more socially connected have a greater sense of belonging, which often correlates with increased self-esteem and confidence in academic settings. This method effectively isolates the impact of social relationships on students’ attitudes toward their abilities in an academic environment, making it a direct measure of the variable being studied. The other options do not directly relate to the manipulation of personal social relationships and their influence on an individual's feelings of acceptance and academic confidence.