Statistics Homework!! Need Help

[Lahomework]

in each pair of variables, make a brief argument for which is the predictor variable and which is the outcome variable.

A. Self-esteem rating and percent correct on a statistics exam
B. Trait-level extraversion and enjoyment of a surprise party
C. Time spent playing online video games and GPA

 

[tkhunny]

Ummm... Do we get anything to go on?

Perhaps your could present your brief arguments? We'd be happy to critique them and provide possible improvements where necessary..

 

[Harry_the_cat]

The best way to determine whether variable A or variable B is the predictor/outcome variable is to ask yourself the 2 questions:

Is A likely to affect B? OR Is B likely to affect A?

Consider for example: temperature and number of icecreams sold.

1. Is temperature likely to affect number of icecreams sold?

OR

2. Is the number of icecreams sold likely to affect the temperature?

Do you agree that 1 makes more sense?

In which case temperature is the predictor (independent) variable and number of icecreams is the outcome (dependent).

It's not always that black and white though. And sometimes you can justify either as the predictor.

As tkhunny said, give us your arguments and we can comment on them.

 

[Romsek]

This question has no definitive answers. Hopefully you'll have some sort of instructor to discuss your answers with you.

For example let's look at (c)

One train of thought is that if you waste time on video games your gpa will suffer. Ok, that's one train of thought.
20 or so years ago when games were pretty simple it was probably a valid train of thought.

Here time spent on video games is the predictor, gpa is the outcome.

Games aren't so simple anymore. So another perfectly valid train of thought is
People with a high intelligence, and hence high GPA, enjoy and learn from the mental stimulation and challenges video games give them.

Here GPA is the predictor, time spent on video games is the outcome.

There is no right answer, but there is intellectual value in developing arguments either way.