Question

In a study investigating how students use their laptop computers in class, researchers recruited 45 students who regularly take their laptops to class. Software was installed on each of their computers that logged information on the applications the computer was running, including how long each was open and which was the primary focus on the monitor. Logs were kept over multiple lectures. On average, the students cycled through 65 active windows per lecture, with one student averaging 174 active windows per lecture. The researchers developed a rubric to distinguish productive class- related applications from the distractive ones, such as email and social networking sites. For each student, the recorded the number of active windows that were distractive and the amount of time spent on distractive windows. Not, surprisingly, the study finds that students who spent more time on distracting websites generally had lowest test scores. What are the cases in this data set? What is the sample size? List four variables that were recorded for each case. Identify each as categorical or quantitative? Identify all the variables with explanatory/response relationship? Which is explanatory or response variable?

Answer 1

The cases in this data set are two in number i. Students with high test scores

ii. Students with low test scores.

The sample size is 45.

Four variables that were recorded in each case are.

i. Number of active windows per lecture. - Quantitative

ii. Whether an active window was productive or distractive - Categorical

iii. Number of active windows that were distractive - Quantitative

iv. Amount of time spent on distractive windows - Quantitative

The number of active windows that were distractive , the amount of time spent on distractive windows and test scores are the variables with an explanatory/response relationship.

Number of active windows that were distractive - Explanatory variable

Amount of time spent on distractive windows - Explanatory variable

Test scores - Response variable