Q1.

The following model is a simplified version of the multiple regression

model used by Biddle and Hamermesh (1990) to study the tradeoff between time
spent sleeping and working and to look at other factors affecting;

Sleep = 0 + 1totwork + 2educ + 3age +

Where sleep and tot work (total work) is measured in minutes per week and
educ and age are measured in years.
If adults trade off sleep for work what is the sign of 1?

(i)

Ans.
If adults trade off sleep for work the sign of 1 will be negative because
when the time for work increase time remaining for sleep will be less. It is natural
that if someone works more, he will be able to sleep less.

(ii)

What sign do you think of 2 and 3?

Ans.
The sign of 2 will be negative as the time for education goes to increase
time remaining for sleep is less. The sign of 3 will be positive. For adults when
age goes to increase time for sleep will be more required.(though it is difficult
to predict if its always the case)

(iii)
Suppose the estimated equation is :
Sleep = 3638.25 0.14totwork 11.13educ + 2.20age
n = 706 and R2 = 0.113

If someone works five more hours per week and how many minutes
sleep is?

Ans.
Total hours per week
Total minutes per week

7 * 24 = 168
168 * 60 = 10080

Suppose one works eight hours per day;

Total work hour per week
8 * 7 = 56
Total minutes per week
56 * 60 = 3360
If someone works five hours more per week;
Total minutes per week
5 * 60 = 300
Total minutes for work per week after five hours more
3360 + 300 = 3660

Suppose one sleeps eight hours per day;

Total sleep hours per week
8* 7 = 56
Total sleep minutes per week
56 * 60 = 3360
Total sleep minutes after five hours more work;
3360 300 = 3060
When one works more hours per week the time for sleep will be
less as five hours for sleep per week.

(iv)
Ans.

Discuss the sign and magnitude of the estimated coefficient on educ

More education implies less predicted time sleeping, but the effect is quite small.

If we assume the difference between college and high school is four years, the college
graduate sleeps about 45 minutes less per week, other things constant and equal.
(v) Would you say, totwork, educ and age explain much of the variation in sleep? What
other factor affect the time spent sleeping? Are these likely to be correlated with
totwork?
Ans. Only 11.3% of the variation in minutes of sleep is explained by the model. Other
factors: Number of children would surely be correlated with totwrk.