One of Your Peers Wants to Analyze Whether or Not

question 48

Essay

One of your peers wants to analyze whether or not participating in varsity sports lowers or increases the GPA of students. She decides to collect data from 110 male and female students on their GPA and the number of hours they spend participating in varsity sports. The coefficient in the simple regression function turns out to be significantly negative, using the t-statistic and carrying out the appropriate hypothesis test. Upon reflection, she is concerned that she did not ask the students in her sample whether or not they were female or male. You point out to her that you are more concerned about the effect of omitted variables in her regression, such as the incoming SAT score of the students, and whether or not they are in a major from a high/low grading department. Elaborate on your argument.

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Definitions:

Executive Control Centre

A component of the brain responsible for regulating attention, problem-solving, and adaptable behavior in complex situations.

Prefrontal Cortex

The frontal part of the brain involved in complex behaviors such as planning, decision making, and moderating social behavior.

Adolescent Behaviour

The range of actions and manners displayed by individuals navigating the transition from childhood to adulthood, characterized by exploration, identity formation, and emotional development.

Adolescence

The transition period from childhood to adulthood, marked by significant physical, psychological, and social changes.