More Inferential Statistics - Linear Regression
In the previous pages, we performed a t-test with the result showing that women have significantly more time to themselves than men. In reflecting on this analysis, though, it occurs to us that women live longer than men and are more likely to be older, living alone. Thus, our previous analysis included both households with children at home and without children. Therefore, we decide to do another analysis that includes both gender (coded as 1=male, 2=female) and the number of children under 18 living at home. We conjecture that women who have a husband to help with the children might have more time alone because the father would provide some child care. Marriage, (coded 0 = no, 1= yes) gets added to the equation.
However, we could also begin with the hypothesis that that men actually have less time to themselves because they work longer hours than women. In order to test this hypothesis, we can add number of hours worked as a possible predictor variable for time alone. This presents a classic multiple regression equation that can be easily solved with SPSS.
- From the Analyze menu, select Regression and click Linear Regression.
- In the Linear Regression window, select your dependent variable from the variables list on the left-hand side of the screen and click the box next to Dependent.
- Next, select your independent variables and click the arrow next to Independent (s).
- Click the OK button at the bottom left of the window and the multiple regression will run.
The output from our linear regression shows that, in fact, there are no significant differences in the amount of time men and women spend by themselves when controlling for the number of children at home and the number of hours a person spends working. At least as far as time alone, men and women are about even.
Last updated:
February 22, 2010