Demonstrating that a correlation exists does not prove that changes in one variable are the cause...

60.1K

Verified Solution

Question

Basic Math

Demonstrating that a correlation exists does not prove thatchanges in one variable are the cause of changes in the other,partly because other factors which are undetected may beinfluencing both known variables. Thus, knowing that a correlationexists may lead to two or more different interpretations of thecorrelation. For each of the studies described below, decidewhether the correlation is positive or negative and give twoexplanations for the finding.

1 A government study reveals that the more a mother smokes, themore likely her children are to exhibit behavioral problems.

2 The more psychology courses students take during their collegeyears, the higher their scores on a measure of interpersonalsensitivity.

3 A survey of adolescents being treated for eating disordersnoted that those who watched the most TV during the week tended toreceive the lowest ratings on a measure of general health.

Answer & Explanation Solved by verified expert
3.7 Ratings (294 Votes)
we know that 2 variables are positively correlated when they both increase or decrease together we know that 2 variables are negatively correlated when 1 variable increases the other decreases Also note that correlation can lie between 1    See Answer
Get Answers to Unlimited Questions

Join us to gain access to millions of questions and expert answers. Enjoy exclusive benefits tailored just for you!

Membership Benefits:
  • Unlimited Question Access with detailed Answers
  • Zin AI - 3 Million Words
  • 10 Dall-E 3 Images
  • 20 Plot Generations
  • Conversation with Dialogue Memory
  • No Ads, Ever!
  • Access to Our Best AI Platform: Flex AI - Your personal assistant for all your inquiries!
Become a Member

Other questions asked by students