Question

Two researchers analyse the exact same data set, using multiple regression analyses to predict depression from secure attachment, neuroticism, and anxiety.  Catherine finds that anxiety is a significant predictor of depression in her analysis, while Sam finds that anxiety is not a significant predictor in her analysis.  Assuming neither made a mistake, which of the following is true about how the researchers conducted their analyses?

(a) Sam must have conducted a standard multiple regression (SMR); while Catherine must have conducted a hierarchical multiple regression (HMR), entering secure attachment and neuroticism in Block 1, and anxiety in Block 2.

(b) Catherine must have conducted a standard multiple regression (SMR); while Sam must have conducted a hierarchical multiple regression (HMR), entering anxiety in Block 1, and secure attachment and neuroticism in Block 2.

(c) Sam must have conducted a standard multiple regression (SMR); while Catherine must have conducted a hierarchical multiple regression (HMR), entering anxiety in Block 1, and secure attachment and neuroticism in Block 2.

(d) Catherine must have conducted a standard multiple regression (SMR); while Sam must have conducted a hierarchical multiple regression (HMR), entering secure attachment and neuroticism in Block 1, and anxiety in Block 2.

Answer 1

(c) Sam must have conducted a standard multiple regression (SMR); while Catherine must have conducted a hierarchical multiple regression (HMR), entering anxiety in Block 1, and secure attachment and neuroticism in Block 2.

Anxiety as single predictor would be a significant predictor of depression. But Anxiety in multiple regression model with secure attachment, neuroticism may not be a significant predictor. This may be because the variation of depression due to Anxiety is explained by secure attachment, neuroticism.