Assignment
Quantitative Methods Applied Assignment: Applied Case-Study
This assignment is intended to help you understand and practice regression analysis. To complete the assignment, you must open the corresponding EXCEL file titled
"SNAPRegressionData.xlsx".
The sheets within the file are created to assist you in becoming familiar with your data.
Once you have completed the necessary steps in the assignment, you must submit your completed analysis homework file - retitled as "AppliedRegression_LastName.xlsx" - and your completed write-up homework file - titled as "SNAPWriteUp_LastName.docx" -- through the corresponding homework submission links.
Assignment Directions
SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), otherwise known as "food stamps", is a federal aid program instituted to assist individuals and households in achieving food security. However, there has been a significant amount of debate over how those receiving SNAP subsidies use the funds. The purpose of this assignment is to familiarize you with the current debate, then supply you with data that allows you to model a hypothesized relationship between different variables and draw conclusions regarding the veracity of this hypothesis.
To successfully complete this assignment, you will submit two documents. Document one will contain the regression analyses tables which you generated to model the hypothesized relationships; document two will contain your interpretation of the regression coefficients and any conclusions you draw based on the findings.
The first step is to familiarize yourself with the current debate regarding the way in which SNAP subsidy recipients spend their benefit. The following popular media links are provided to assist you in this endeavor:
The second step is to familiarize yourself with the USDA data collected on SNAP recipients, as well as non-SNAP recipients, that you will be using to complete this assignment. The following links are provided to assist you in this endeavor:
Third, you need to download the necessary pre-cleaned SNAP data titled "SNAPRegressionData.xlsx". In order to complete this assignment, you need to formally model two different relationships given the following research questions:
1. Are SNAP recipients more likely than non-recipients to purchase food that can be described as "unnecessary"?
a. There is no actual variable that signals if a purchase was necessary or not. It is up to you to look at the various items purchase and determine if they are necessary or not. For example, is alcohol necessary? Sweets, like desserts or candy? Sugary drinks? You need to create a brand-new variable that is set equal to "1" if it's an unnecessary purchase, and "0" is not. This variable will be your dependent variable in this model.
b. SNAP participation is the primary independent variable in this model. Are there others? What about control variables?
2. What factors influence food security for adults?
a. Food security status is a pre-built variable in this dataset. It is your dependent variable in this model. Be careful to note the direction in which it is coded!
b. What is/are your independent variable(s)? Are you interested in seeing if participating in SNAP influences food security? Are you interested in seeing if certain shopping or eating behaviors influence food security? What about control variables?
Once you have modeled these two different relationships and generated (at least) two different tables, it is time for you to interpret and write-up your findings. Be sure to address the following questions, at a minimum:
1. How did you define "unnecessary" food? Why did you define it this way?
2. Are SNAP recipients more likely to purchase unnecessary food? (interpret the coefficients)
3. Are these any other factors that influence the purchase of unnecessary food items? (interpret the coefficients)
4. What did you think would have the most important influence on food security status in adults? Did it have a statistically significant influence? (interpret the coefficients)
5. Did anything else influence food security? (interpret the coefficients) Was this surprising to you? Why/why not?
6. Given these findings, how would you respond to popular media accounts that you read earlier about this debate?
Format your assignment according to the following formatting requirements:
1. The answer should be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides.
2. The response also include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student's name, the course title, and the date. The cover page is not included in the required page length.
3. Also Include a reference page. The Citations and references should follow APA format. The reference page is not included in the required page length.
Attachment:- SNAP-Regression.rar