Retain Your Knowledge: Decision Making and Hunger Does hunger improve strategic decision making? That is, if you are hungry are you more likely to make a favorable decision when the outcome of your decision is uncertain (as in business decisions)? To test this theory, researchers randomly divided 30 normal weight individuals into two groups. All subjects were asked to refrain from eating or drinking (except water) from 11 P.M. on the day prior to their 9 A.M. meeting. At 9 A.M., the subjects were randomly assigned to one of two groups. The subjects in Group 1 were fed breakfast while the subjects in Group 2 were not fed. All subjects were administered a computerized version of an exam that assesses complex decision making under uncertain conditions. The assessment consisted of subjects choosing cards from four decks marked A, B, C, and D. Cards in decks A and B had a point value of 100 while cards in decks C and D had point values of 50. However, deck A had penalty cards that deducted points between 150 and 300; deck B had one penalty card of 1250; deck C had penalty cards between 25 and 75 points; deck D had a single penalty card of 250 points. So, decks A and B had stiffer penalties over the long haul than decks C and D and in the long haul, decks C and D resolted in more points than decks A and B. In total, the subjects would select 100 cards. However, the response variable was the number of cards selected from decks C and D out of the last 60 cards selected. The thinking here is that after 40 card selections, the subjects would be aware of the advantage of decks C and D. The researchers administered a Barret Impulsivity Scale to be sure the two groups did not differ in terms of impolsivity (e.g., “I do things without thinking”). There was no difference in impulsivity, age, or body mass index between the two groups. Before the exam, subjects were asked to report their level of hunger and it was found that Group 2 was significantly more hungry than Group 1. After analysis of the data, it was determined that the mean number of advantageous cards (decks C and D) selected by the subjects in Group 2 was 33.36 cards while the mean was 25.86 for the subjects in Group 1. The researchers concluded that hunger improves advantageous decision making.


c. What is the response variable? Is it qualitative or quantitative? If quantitative, is it discrete or continuous?

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the response variable by determining what outcome the researchers are measuring to assess the effect of hunger on decision making. In this problem, the response variable is the number of cards selected from decks C and D out of the last 60 cards chosen.
2. Determine the type of the response variable. Since the response variable counts the number of cards selected, it represents a numerical value rather than categories, so it is quantitative.
3. Next, decide if the quantitative variable is discrete or continuous. Because the number of cards selected can only take whole number values (you cannot select a fraction of a card), the variable is discrete.
4. Summarize: The response variable is the count of advantageous cards (from decks C and D) selected in the last 60 cards, which is a quantitative discrete variable.
5. This understanding helps in choosing appropriate statistical methods for analysis, such as comparing means between groups using t-tests or non-parametric tests suitable for discrete quantitative data.

Key Concepts

Response Variable

The response variable is the main outcome measured in a study to assess the effect of different treatments or conditions. It reflects what the researchers are interested in explaining or predicting. In this question, it is the number of advantageous cards selected, which indicates decision-making performance.

Qualitative vs. Quantitative Variables

Variables can be qualitative (categorical) or quantitative (numerical). Qualitative variables describe categories or groups, while quantitative variables represent measurable amounts or counts. Understanding this distinction helps classify the response variable correctly.

Discrete vs. Continuous Variables

Quantitative variables are either discrete or continuous. Discrete variables take countable values, often integers, like the number of cards selected. Continuous variables can take any value within a range, such as height or weight. Identifying this helps specify the nature of the response variable.