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A psychologist suspects that a correlation found between employee commute time and job satisfaction is actually driven by a third variable: employee salary. In one or two sentences, state what specific statistical technique the psychologist should apply to evaluate the commute-satisfaction relationship independently of salary.
Question: A psychologist suspects that a correlation found between employee commute time and job satisfaction is actually driven by a third variable: employee salary. In one or two sentences, state what specific statistical technique the psychologist should apply to evaluate the commute-satisfaction relationship independently of salary.
Sample answer: The psychologist should apply a partial correlation. This technique will allow them to statistically control for salary to determine if the relationship between commute time and job satisfaction exists independently.
Key points:
- Identifies partial correlation as the correct statistical technique.
- Recognizes that the technique is used to statistically control for the third variable (salary).
- Applies the concept of examining independent relationships to the provided variables.
Rubric: The student must correctly identify partial correlation as the technique used to statistically control for a third variable.
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Research Methods in Psychology - 4th American Edition @ KPU
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A psychologist suspects that a correlation found between employee commute time and job satisfaction is actually driven by a third variable: employee salary. In one or two sentences, state what specific statistical technique the psychologist should apply to evaluate the commute-satisfaction relationship independently of salary.