A researcher aims to study the relationship between the quality of breakfast and

Question

A researcher aims to study the relationship between the quality of breakfast and academic performance for third grade children. The researcher obtains a sample of 100 third-grade children. Each child is interviewed to determine their typical breakfast, and the child is assigned a score describing the nutritional value of their breakfast. Also, the child’s level of academic performance is obtained from school records. The results show that higher academic performance tends to be associated with a higher level of nutritional value at breakfast.

a) Describe how the directionality problem limits the interpretation of these results. Be specific and detailed.

b) Describe how the third-variable problem limits the interpretation of these results. Be specific and detailed.

Explanation / Answer

a) Since this is a correlational study, the directionality problem limits the interpretation of research because the findings merely indicate a positive relationship between academic performance and nutritional value of breakfast. One cannot ascertain whether the nutritional value of breakfast impacts academic performance or whether academic performance determines the nutritional value of breakfast that children consume. Therefore, conclusions about which variable impacts the other cannot be sufficiently drawn,

b) Correlational studies such as the one described above also pose the third variable problem. There is a possibility that some extraneous variable is responsible for the correlation that was found between academic performance and nutritional value of breakfast. It may be possible that parental attributes, such as highly involved parents, ensure that their children eat nutritional breakfast and also study regularly for their examinations. Therefore, this third variable maybe actually responsible for the relationship observed,

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