To investigate the relationship between the amount of studying and students' grade point averages (GPAs), Leona should consider the following variables for her study:
Independent Variable:
- Amount of Study Time: This could be measured in hours per week or hours per day that students spend studying.
Dependent Variable:
- Grade Point Average (GPA): This is the students' average academic performance, typically on a scale from 0.0 to 4.0 or similar, depending on the grading system used.
Control Variables (to account for other influencing factors):
- Age: The age of the students might influence their study habits and GPA.
- Gender: Exploring whether there are differences in study habits and GPAs between male and female students.
- Socioeconomic Background: Family income could affect access to study resources.
- Extracurricular Activities: Participation in sports, clubs, or other activities might impact the time available for studying.
- Study Environment: Whether students have a quiet space to study or distractions at home.
- Learning Style: Different students may have different effective study methods (visual, auditory, kinesthetic).
- Previous Academic Performance: Past grades might influence current study habits and GPA.
- Availability of Help: Access to tutoring or help from teachers, which might affect understanding and grades.
By collecting data on these variables, Leona can better analyze the potential relationship between study habits and GPAs among middle school students.