Question

Dr. Matsuda conducts a correlational study on the relation between children's health and number of hours watching television. Due to design of her study, which of the following conclusions can she not make. Select one: a. Children's health is associated with the number of hours they watch television. b. Children who watch more television may have poorer health. c. Watching television predicts children’s health. d. Children who have poorer health tend to watch more television. e. None of the above

Answer 1

Answer:

I would say that given the nature of correlational studies, and their purpose, the one option to answer the question: Due to the design of her study, which of the following conclusions can she NOT make, would be, C: Watching television predicts children´s health.

Explanation:

The reason for this being the answer is that that particular statement establishes causation, or a relationship of cause and effect, which correlational studies seldom can establish. It must be remembered that correlation studies seek to establish association between observed variables, but not in a cause-and-effect direct relationship, but rather whether one variable is linked in some form to the appearance, or absence of the other. Watching television, and this being a predictor of children´s health would require experimentation, instead of correlation, and correlation could only establish that children who watch too much T.V have poor health, or not. There are way too many other reasons that could be causing an affectation of a child´s health condition and there may, or may not be, any connection with watching T.V.