Psychology 7291 Multivariate Statistics

Psychology 7291 Multivariate Statistics
August 31, 1998

Due: Tuesday, September 9

Assignment: Perform a multiple regression to predict homicide rates in the city of Detroit during the 1960s. Write up the methods and the results.

Background: The computer file on ~carey/p7291dir/detroit.sas will read in and create a SAS data set of variables that include the homicide rate for Detroit during the 1960s. Using the predictor variables of your choice, run a multiple regression predicting the homicide rate. You may use you own choice of regression methods and variable selection.

Notes:

(1) If you try to predict the homicide rate from all the other variables in the data set, it will be impossible to perform the regression. We will discuss the reasons for this in the next class.

(2) In your write up, include the reason why you selected your independent variables.

(3) Be sensitive to issues of "cause" versus "statistical prediction" in your writing.

(4) There is not a "right" way to perform these analyses. The whole purpose of this assignment is to compare and contrast different strategies in class.