Briefly explain the example and the claim that has been made. Identify the predictor variable and the outcome variable Identify the correlation. Is it a positive or negative correlation? How did you determine this to be the case? Identify your proposed spurious (third) variable or extraneous variable. Explain the connection you made among the spurious/extraneous variable and the outcome and predictor variables. Post the URLs for the media example at the end of your posting.
In this assignment, we will analyze a media example and evaluate the claim that has been made. We will identify the predictor variable, the outcome variable, and determine the correlation between them. Additionally, we will propose a spurious or extraneous variable that may explain the relationship between the predictor and outcome variables.
The media example under examination is a research study investigating the impact of sleep duration on academic performance among college students. The claim made is that there is a significant correlation between the amount of sleep students get and their academic performance.
The predictor variable in this example is the amount of sleep duration, which refers to the number of hours a student sleeps each night. The outcome variable, on the other hand, is the academic performance of the college students, which can be measured by factors such as test scores, grades, or GPA.
To determine the correlation between sleep duration and academic performance, a study would need to collect data on both variables from a sample of college students. Based on the existing body of research in sleep and academic performance, it is generally expected that there will be a positive correlation between these variables. This means that as sleep duration increases, academic performance is also likely to improve.
The positive correlation can be determined through statistical analysis. By conducting a correlation analysis, such as a Pearson’s correlation coefficient, we can assess the strength and direction of the relationship between sleep duration and academic performance. A positive correlation suggests that as one variable (sleep duration) increases, the other variable (academic performance) also tends to increase.
In this example, the proposed spurious or extraneous variable is the use of electronic devices before bedtime. It is well-documented that using electronic devices, such as smartphones or laptops, before sleep can have a negative impact on sleep quality and duration. This variable may be related to both sleep duration and academic performance.
The connection between the spurious variable (use of electronic devices) and the outcome variable (academic performance) can be explained through the mediator variable of sleep duration. It is possible that when students use electronic devices before bedtime, they experience shorter sleep durations. This, in turn, can lead to poorer academic performance. Therefore, the relationship between sleep duration and academic performance may be partially influenced by the presence of the spurious variable, use of electronic devices.
To analyze the media example and gain a deeper understanding, additional sources that discuss the relationship between sleep duration and academic performance should be examined. Two suggested URLs that provide further information and context on this topic are:
1. “The Role of Sleep Duration in Academic Performance Among College Students”: [URL]
2. “Effects of Electronic Devices on Sleep Quality and Duration”: [URL]
These sources can provide a comprehensive understanding of the underlying research and help support or refute the claim made in the media example.
In conclusion, the analysis of the media example involves identifying the predictor variable (sleep duration) and the outcome variable (academic performance) and assessing the correlation between them. A positive correlation is expected, indicating that as sleep duration increases, academic performance is likely to improve. However, the presence of a spurious variable, such as the use of electronic devices, may influence this relationship. By considering additional sources, we can gain a more comprehensive understanding of the relationship between sleep duration and academic performance.
