The relationship between hospital patient-to-nurse ratio andvarious characteristics of job satisfaction and patient care hasbeen the focus of a number of research studies. Suppose x =patient-to-nurse ratio is the independent variable. For each of thefollowing potential dependent variables, indicate whether youexpect the slope of the least-squares line to be positive ornegative and give a brief explanation for your choice.

(a) y = a measure of nurse's job satisfaction (higher valuesindicate higher satisfaction)

We expect the slope to be negative. With more patients tonurses, the nurses will have more stress and less job satisfaction.We expect the slope to be negative. With more patients to nurses,the nurses will have less stress and more job satisfaction. Weexpect the slope to be positive. With more patients to nurses, thenurses will have less stress and more job satisfaction. We expectthe slope to be positive. With more patients to nurses, the nurseswill have more stress and less job satisfaction.

(b) y = a measure of patient satisfaction with hospital care(higher values indicate higher satisfaction)

We expect the slope to be positive. With more patients tonurses, the nurses will have less time with patients and thepatients will have less satisfaction with their care. We expect theslope to be positive. With more patients to nurses, the nurses willhave more time with patients and the patients will have moresatisfaction with their care. We expect the slope to be negative.With more patients to nurses, the nurses will have less time withpatients and the patients will have less satisfaction with theircare. We expect the slope to be negative. With more patients tonurses, the nurses will have more time with patients and thepatients will have more satisfaction with their care.

(c) y = a measure of patient quality of care

We expect the slope to be positive. With more patients tonurses, the nurses will have more time with patients and thequality of care will increase. We expect the slope to be negative.With more patients to nurses, the nurses will have less time withpatients and the quality of care will decrease. We expect the slopeto be negative. With more patients to nurses, the nurses will havemore time with patients and the quality of care will increase. Weexpect the slope to be positive. With more patients to nurses, thenurses will have less time with patients and the quality of carewill decrease.