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.

---

Definitions:

Perfect Complements

Goods that are consumed together in fixed proportions, such that the consumer regards them as inseparable in use.

Income Effect

The change in an individual's or economy's purchasing power generated by a change in income, affecting the quantity demanded of a good or service.

Substitution Effect

The change in consumption patterns due to a shift in relative prices, leading consumers to substitute one product for another more affordable one.

Price Change

An adjustment in the cost of a good or service, which can be an increase or decrease from its previous amount.