Question

Screens, teens, and psychological well-being. In a study of three nationally representative large- scale data sets from Ireland, the United States, and the United Kingdom (n = 17,247), teenagers between the ages of 12 to 15 were asked to keep a diary of their screen time and answer questions about how they felt or acted. The answers to these questions were then used to compute a psychological well-being score. Additional data were collected and included in the analysis, such as each child’s sex and age, and on the mother’s education, ethnicity, psychological distress, and employment. The study concluded that there is little clear-cut evidence that screen time decreases adolescent well-being.35

(a) What type of study is this?

(b) Identify the explanatory variables.

(c) Identify the response variable.

(d) Comment on whether the results of the study can be generalized to the population, and why.

(e) Comment on whether the results of the study can be used to establish causal relationships.

Answer 1

Solution

Part (a)

Type of study

Observational study Answer 1

Because it is only observing and recording of the data and does not involve any experimentation.

Part (b)

Explanatory variables:

Screen time of teenagers between the ages of 12 to 15

Sex and age, mother’s education, ethnicity, psychological distress, and employment status of the teenagers referred above.

Answer 2

Part (c)

Response variable:

Adolescent well-being Answer 3

Part (d)

Yes; the results of the study can be generalized to the population. Answer 4

Because the sample size is quite large and covers three significant countries. Answer 5

Part (e)

Yes; the results of the study can be used to establish causal relationships. Answer 6

Because it is known that screen time has an adverse impact on individual’s mind set-up. So, if the statistical analysis brings out a relationship, it can be validated by psycho-analysts. Answer 7

DONE