A researcher wants to predict score on personal happiness (Y) from score on income (X1) and number of friends (X2). Which of the following would be the proper course of action?
A) use the standardized partial slopes of X1 and X2 on Y
B) examine the unstandardized partial slopes of X1 and X2 on Y
C) compute the partial correlation coefficient for X1 and X2 controlling for Y
D) examine the partial slope of Y on each independent separately

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In order to predict Y (personal happiness) from X1 (income) and X2 (number of friends), the researcher should examine the unstandardized partial slopes of X1 and X2 on Y. This will provide an estimate of how much Y is expected to increase or decrease for every one unit increase in X1 and X2, holding the other variable constant. The standardized partial slopes (A), partial correlation coefficient (C), and partial slope of Y on each independent variable separately (D) are not the proper course of action in this scenario.

A Researcher Wants to Predict Score on Personal Happiness (Y)