Chapter 12, Problem 12.162ACI

Improving Math SAT scores. Refer to the Chance (Winter 2001) study of students who paid a private tutor (or coach) to help them improve their Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) scores. Exercise 2.88 (p. 741). Multiple regression was used to estimate the effect of coaching on SAT-Mathematics scores. Data on 3,492 students (573 of whom were coached) were used to fit the model, E (y) = β₀ + β₁x₁ + β₂x₂ where y = SAT9Math score, x₁= score on PSAT, and x₂ = {1 if student was coached, 0 if not}.

1. a. The fitted model had an adjusted R² -value of .76. Interpret this result.
2. b. The estimate of in the model was 19, with a standard error of 3. Use this information to form a 95% confidence interval for β₂. Interpret the interval.
3. c. Based on the interval, part b, what can you say about the effect of coaching on SAT-Math scores?
4. d. As an alternative model, the researcher added several “control” variables, including dummy variables for student ethnicity (x₃, x₄, and x₅), a socioeconomic status index variable (x₆), two variables that measured high school performance (x₇ and x₈). the number of math courses taken in high school (x₉), and the overall GPA for the math courses (x₁₀). Write the hypothesized equation for E(y) for the alternative model.
5. e. Give the null hypothesis for a nested model F-test comparing the initial and alternative models.
6. f. The nested model F-test, part e. was statistically significant at α =.05. Practically interpret this result.
7. g. The alternative model, part d, resulted in $R_a^2=.79,{\hat{\beta }}_2=14,and{s}_{{\beta }_2^2}=3$ Interpret the value of $R_a^2$.
8. h. Refer to part g. Find and interpret a 95% confidence interval for β₂.
9. i. The researcher concluded that “the estimated effect of SAT coaching decreases from the baseline model when control variables are added to the model.’’ Do you agree? Justify your answer.
10. j. As a modification to the model of part d. the researcher added all possible interactions between the coaching variable (x₂) and the other independent variables in the model. Write the equation for E(y) for this modified model.
11. k. Give the null hypothesis for comparing the models, parts d and j. How would you perform this test?