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Summary - Topic 8: Response and Explanatory Variables

This document discusses key concepts relating to explanatory and response variables in scatterplots, including: - The explanatory variable explains changes in the response variable, which is predicted using the explanatory variable and placed on the y-axis. - When making predictions, interpolation is more reliable than extrapolation as it occurs within the existing data range. - The least squares line of best fit has an equation of y=ax+b, where a is the y-intercept and b is the slope, indicating the average change in the response variable per one unit change in the explanatory variable.

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8 views3 pages

Summary - Topic 8: Response and Explanatory Variables

This document discusses key concepts relating to explanatory and response variables in scatterplots, including: - The explanatory variable explains changes in the response variable, which is predicted using the explanatory variable and placed on the y-axis. - When making predictions, interpolation is more reliable than extrapolation as it occurs within the existing data range. - The least squares line of best fit has an equation of y=ax+b, where a is the y-intercept and b is the slope, indicating the average change in the response variable per one unit change in the explanatory variable.

Uploaded by

Michael Dallas
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Summary — Topic 8

Response and explanatory variables


 The explanatory variable (EV) is the variable that explains the change in the response variable.
 The response variable (RV) changes in response to the explanatory variable.
 The RV is predicted using values of the EV. It is placed on the vertical axis of a scatterplot.

Scatterplots and basic correlation


 When constructing a scatterplot, it is important to place the explanatory variable along the
x-axis and the response variable along the y-axis.

 When describing the association between two numeric variables, comment on:
– the direction (positive or negative)
– the strength (strong, moderate or weak, depending on the value of r)
– the form (linear or non-linear)
– if an outlier is clear (include that when describing the association).
– Pearson’s product-moment correlation coefficient, r, which measures the strength of a linear
trend and associates it with a numerical value between −1 and +1.

© John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd


Summary — Topic 8

 The value of the correlation coefficient, r, is calculated using the statistics functions on your CAS
calculator. In order to calculate this value, we assume that:
– the data is numeric
– there are no outliers in the data
– the association is linear.
 Pearson’s product-moment correlation coefficient formula

 Describing the association of a scatterplot:


– The direction will be positive or negative.
– The strength will be strong, moderate or weak. This depends on the value of r.
– The form will be linear (straight line) or non-linear (curved line).
– There may be an outlier if there is a data point that does not appear to fit the association in
the scatterplot.

Informal interpretation of association and causation


 Interpreting the coefficient of determination:
– The coefficient of determination is found by evaluating r2.
– The coefficient of determination tells us the percentage of variation in the response variable
that is explained by variation in the explanatory variable.
 When we calculate the correlation coefficient, either using CAS or the formula, we assume that:
– the data is numeric
– the data is linear (straight)
– there are no outliers.

© John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd


Summary — Topic 8

The line of good fit and predictions


 When the explanatory variable is equal to 0, the value of the response variable is indicated by
the y-intercept, a.
 For each increment of 1 unit of change in the explanatory variable, the change in the response
variable is indicated by the value of the slope, b.
 Interpolation is predicting from within the range of data on a scatterplot and is considered
reliable.
 Extrapolation is predicting beyond the data values on a scatterplot and is not reliable, as we do
not know whether the association continues beyond the data.

 The reliability of making predictions depends heavily on the initial data. A larger sample and a
strong correlation will make for a reliable prediction. In general, interpolation is more reliable
than extrapolation.
 Interpreting the least squares line of best fit:
– Interpretation of the intercept (a): On average, when the value of the explanatory variable is
0, it is predicted that the value of the response variable will be a.
– Interpretation of the slope (b): On average, for each 1 unit increase in the explanatory
variable, the response variable will increase/decrease by b units.
 Note: A negative slope indicates that the response variable will decrease with an increase in the
explanatory variable.

Introduction to the least squares line of best fit (extending)


 The least squares line is a line of best fit for a data set.
 The equation for the least squares line takes the form y = a + bx, where y is the response
variable, x is the explanatory variable, b is the gradient or slope of the line, and a is the
y-intercept.
 To determine the equation for the least squares line, use the statistics functions on your
CAS calculator.

© John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd

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