Question

The relationship between hospital patient-to-nurse ratio and various characteristics of job satisfaction and patient care has been the focus of a number of research studies. Suppose \(x=\) patient-to-nurse ratio is the predictor variable. For each of the following potential dependent variables, indicate whether you expect the slope of the least-squares line to be positive or negative and give a brief explanation for your choice. a. \(y=\) a measure of nurse's job satisfaction (higher values indicate higher satisfaction) b. \(y=\) a measure of patient satisfaction with hospital care (higher values indicate higher satisfaction) c. \(y=\) a measure of patient quality of care.

Short answer

a. The slope for nurse's job satisfaction is expected to be negative. \b. The slope for patient satisfaction with hospital care is expected to be negative.\c. The slope for patient's quality of care is also predicted to be negative.

Step-by-step solution

Understand the relationship between variables

Identify and understand the concept of the patient-to-nurse ratio being the predictor or independent variable. Also grasp the fact that the measures of nurse's job satisfaction, patient satisfaction with hospital care, and patient's quality of care are the dependent variables. Recognise that the slope of a least-squares line indicates the kind of relationship between the independent and dependent variables. A positive slope suggests that as the independent variable increases, the dependent variable also increases. Meanwhile, a negative slope indicates that as the independent variable rises, the dependent variable decreases.

Predict the direction of the slope for each dependent variable

a. For nurses' job satisfaction: It is reasonable to predict a negative slope because as the patient-to-nurse ratio increases (i.e., more patients per nurse), this might imply more workload for each nurse which might lead to reduced job satisfaction.\b. For patient satisfaction with hospital care: Again, it seems reasonable to predict a negative slope because a high patient-to-nurse ratio could lead to inadequate attention being given to each patient, hence lower patient satisfaction.\c. For patient's quality of care: It would be logical to expect a negative slope because high patient-to-nurse ratios could imply less available time per patient, which could result in reduced quality of care.