Prof. Nerenberg surveys 1000 random Cal State LA students to assess if there is

Question

Prof. Nerenberg surveys 1000 random Cal State LA students to assess if there is a correlation between donut consumption and personal happiness. His survey asks the participants to rate how happy they are (not too happy, pretty happy, and very happy) and how many donuts they eat per day.

Which of the following choices most plausibly identifies the variables used in the study as explanatory and response?

a. explanatory: not too happy, pretty happy, very happy, response: number of donuts consumed per day

b. explanatory: happiness level (categorical with 3 levels), response: number of donuts consumed per day

c. no way to tell which variable is explanatory vs. response

d. explanatory: number of donuts consumed per day, response: happiness level (categorical with 3 levels)

Explanation / Answer

Answer: c. no way to tell which variable is explanatory vs. response

Reason: The study involves calculating correlation between the 2 variables. Correlation does not explain a causal relationship. Hence, there is c. no way to tell which variable is explanatory vs. response.

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