PSYC3010 Multiple Regression (MR) Assignment 2025
(maximum 600 words, excluding R output and syntax)
Objective:
Create ONE multiple-choice quiz question (JUST ONE) with FIVE response options based on the content taught in Lectures 1-6 and Tutorials 1-3. You must use the data set provided for THIS assignment (mr_assignment_data_2025).
The participants in this dataset were Australian 1st year psychology students (N=182). You do not need to describe the participants for your assignment.
Using this data set, you need to:
1. Choose ANY SIX variables: ONE dependent variable (DV) and FIVE independent variables (IVs).
2. Postulate your research question and conduct the relevant analyses using R. You are NOT required to cite existing research, but your question must be plausible and interesting to psychologists!
a. Your analyses must contain one DV and five IVs chosen from the data set provided.
b. The five IVs must be chosen from at least four different clusters detailed in the 'Description of Variables' document (e.g., NOT all from the COPE Inventory or Personality Item Pool).
c. Correlations between the independent variables must be below |.50|.
d. You must conduct a simultaneous multiple regression (not sequential or simple linear regression).
e. The results must include at least TWO statistically significant predictors. At least one of the statistically significant predictors must yield a negative regression coefficient.
f. Do NOT include any interaction terms or categorical variables in the analyses for THIS assignment.
3. For the response options:
a. You need to have FIVE multiple-choice response options, labelled A, B, C, D, and E.
b. Only ONE of the response options is to be correct, and it must be labelled with an asterisk (*).
c. Each response option must include reasons as to why it is a CORRECT or INCORRECT response (see the multiple examples provided in the practice quizzes).
d. You CANNOT use response options such as “All of the Above” or “None of the Above” or “Both a and b” .
e. Your quiz question CANNOT be “Which of the following five options is FALSE?”
4. For the CONTENT of your FIVE response options: (plenty of examples can be found in the lectures/tutorials)
a. Response option A must be based on interpretation of the unstandardised or standardised regression coefficient(s).
b. Response option B must be based on part correlations or unique variance.
c. Response option C must be based on the overall regression model.
d. Response option D must be based on a take-home message given your research question and output.
e. Response option E is completely up to you (surprise us ).
5. You will need to submit ONE pdf OR word file containing:
a. Your research question (approx. 25-50 words), specifying the names of the variables that you used in parentheses (plenty of examples can be found in the lectures/tutorials)
b. Your multiple-choice quiz item (including all five response options and the reasons for each being correct/incorrect)
c. Relevant syntax (pasted into the Appendix) and the correlation matrix (see template)
d. All submissions will be processed through Turnitin. Plagiarism of any sort will not be tolerated.
e. Copy and paste the R output as text using a monospace font like Courier New. Also, copy and paste the R syntax as text, so that we can re-run it during marking.
Any tables used in your quiz item can either be in APA format or copied directly from R output (make sure the entire table fits on the page). Whatever R output is required to answer your quiz question must be included in the quiz item section (see template). Your syntax needs to be included in the Appendix (see template).
Marking Criteria [out of 100]
Your assignment will be marked based on:
1) [10 marks] Plausibility of the research question and general setup of the regression model (i.e., a coherent and reasonable set of DV and IVs). Conducting the appropriate analyses and submitting a complete Appendix. NB: we do NOT expect you to cite any research!
2) [75 marks] Accuracy and quality of the five response options (15 marks each)
a. Accuracy of each proposed response option AND feedback in terms of theoretical/statistical analysis, interpretation, calculation, justification, etc, (focussing on the details provided in the instructions).
b. Quality of the proposed response options AND feedback. For example, having good distractors—reasonably plausible on the surface, sufficiently difficult to reject, and being incorrect for good reasons (instead of typos, etc). Amount of non-trivial details in the distractors.
3) [5 marks] Overall coherency and formatting (everything neatly presented) of your quiz item.
4) [10 marks] Independent, original thought.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Please direct all questions about the assignment to [email protected]. Answers to common questions will be posted in the FAQ section of the MR Assignment page on Canvas. Please double-check this page for updates before submitting your assignment.
Q: Do I need to describe how each variable was measured in the research question?
A: No, you do not need to repeat this information from the Description of Variables document.
Q: Can I hide some numbers in the R output for my quiz question?
A: Yes.
Q: Do I have to use the given template?
A: No, the assignment template is just a suggestion. You may use your own template (or quiz question) if you wish. Please ensure that all the information is clearly presented and well-organised in your assignment.
Q: Can I paste the output from multiple analyses for my quiz item?
A: Yes, you may conduct and present multiple analyses, but you are NOT required to do so, and it must be clear to the person answering your quiz question: which piece(s) of output comes from which analysis, and which analyses are relevant for each response option. If you decide to present output from multiple analyses, all response options
should (at minimum) require the marker to evaluate what you have written against the results from a simultaneous regression with 1 DV and 5 IVs.
Q: Do I need to write the correct answer in the feedback for the incorrect response options?
A: Providing the correct answer in your written feedback can improve clarity. However, providing only the correct answer without explanation is less useful as feedback.
Q: Can I base option E on content specified for options A-D (e.g., using a different angle to interpret the unstandardised or standardised regression coefficients)?
A: You will have greater scope to show independent, original thought if the five response options are clearly distinct
from each other. So, we recommend that you base option E on different content. Apart from option E, we will also be looking for independent, original thought in your response options and feedback for options A-D as well.