Regression Analysis

Definition

Regression analysis is a statistical technique used to examine the relationship between a dependent variable and one or more independent variables. It allows researchers to model and analyze the nature of these relationships, often with the goal of predicting future outcomes or understanding the factors that influence a particular phenomenon.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Regression analysis can be used to identify the factors that contribute to employment discrimination, such as gender, race, or age.
2. The coefficient of determination (R-squared) in a regression model indicates the proportion of the variation in the dependent variable that is explained by the independent variables.
3. Regression analysis can help quantify the impact of different factors on employment outcomes, such as the effect of education level or work experience on hiring decisions.
4. Assumptions of regression analysis, such as linearity, normality, and homoscedasticity, must be met to ensure the validity of the results.
5. Regression models can be used to test hypotheses about the relationships between variables in the context of employment discrimination, such as the effect of workplace policies on hiring and promotion decisions.

Review Questions

• Explain how regression analysis can be used to study employment discrimination.
  • Regression analysis can be used to study employment discrimination by modeling the relationship between a dependent variable, such as hiring decisions or promotion outcomes, and independent variables that may be associated with discrimination, such as gender, race, age, or other demographic characteristics. By controlling for other factors that may influence the dependent variable, regression analysis can help identify the specific effects of these demographic variables on employment outcomes, allowing researchers to quantify the extent of discrimination and understand the factors that contribute to it.
• Describe how the assumptions of regression analysis must be met to ensure the validity of the results in the context of employment discrimination.
  • The validity of regression analysis in the context of employment discrimination depends on the assumptions of the model being met. These assumptions include linearity (the relationship between the dependent and independent variables is linear), normality (the residuals, or the differences between the observed and predicted values, are normally distributed), and homoscedasticity (the variance of the residuals is constant across all levels of the independent variables). If these assumptions are violated, the results of the regression analysis may be biased or unreliable, leading to inaccurate conclusions about the nature and extent of employment discrimination.
• Evaluate how regression analysis can be used to test hypotheses about the relationships between variables in the context of employment discrimination.
  • Regression analysis can be a powerful tool for testing hypotheses about the relationships between variables in the context of employment discrimination. By specifying a regression model that includes the variables of interest, researchers can use statistical tests to determine the significance and direction of the relationships between these variables. For example, a researcher could use regression analysis to test the hypothesis that workplace policies aimed at promoting diversity and inclusion have a positive effect on hiring and promotion outcomes, even after controlling for other factors that may influence these outcomes. The results of the regression analysis can then be used to draw conclusions about the validity of the hypothesis and the underlying mechanisms that drive employment discrimination.

Related terms

Dependent Variable: The variable that is being predicted or explained in a regression analysis, also known as the outcome or response variable.

Independent Variable: The variables that are used to predict or explain the dependent variable in a regression analysis, also known as the explanatory or predictor variables.

Correlation: A statistical measure that indicates the strength and direction of the linear relationship between two variables.