← Back to Research Methods

Research Methods

Week 4: Quantitative Research Part 1

Quantitative research foundations, question types, variables, models, and research designs based on Session 4 of Research Methods for Management.

Question 42 of 56

Case: Screen Time & Academic Performance

A team of educational psychologists wants to understand how daily screen time (hours spent on social media) affects university students' GPA.

They propose the following:

  • Social media use reduces deep focus ability, which in turn lowers GPA.
  • The negative effect of screen time on GPA is much stronger for first-year students than for senior students.
  • They measure and hold constant parental income and prior high school GPA to rule out alternative explanations.

---

Identify each of the following and briefly explain your reasoning:

  1. What is the independent variable (IV)?
  2. What is the dependent variable (DV)?
  3. What is the mediator, and why?
  4. What is the moderator, and why?
  5. What are the control variables, and why are they included?

Write your answer in your own words. It will be graded with Gemini.

Answer freely: concise wording is fine as long as it covers the lecture point.