A researcher determines that the crime rate in a large city fluctuates with the phases of the moon. He concludes that the gravitational pull of the moon influences human behavior. He has committed what error?
Correct answer: B. He incorrectly inferred causation from correlation
- A. He incorrectly inferred correlation from causation
- B. He incorrectly inferred causation from correlation
- C. He failed to measure the gravitational pull to test his hypothesis
- D. He has overlooked the placebo effect
Explanation
The researcher observes that two variables vary together and then concludes that one causes the other, which is an inference from correlation to causation. Correlation alone cannot rule out other causes or coincidence.
Report an error
The more specific you are, the faster it gets fixed. A source beats an opinion.
Prefer email? [email protected]
Practise Research Methods and Statistics
263 free Research Methods and Statistics MCQs from Psychology, each with the correct answer and an explanation. Unlimited attempts, no account needed.
Discussion
Stuck on an option, or know a faster way to get there? Ask or explain it here.
No comments yet. Be the first to explain this one.
Exams that ask Psychology questions like this
Psychology is on this paper prepared for on TestUstad, and all of them draw the same bank, so this question is worth knowing for it.
More Research Methods and Statistics questions
in the traditional learning experiment, the effect of practice on performance is investigate(d) performance is the ______________ variable.
Collection of observable evidence. precise definition and replication result all form the basis for:
In order to summarize or organize a series of observations in some meaningful way, psychologists may develop:
Students who do better in high school tend to do better in college. This is an example of:
Which of the following coefficients of correlation indicates the strongest relationship between two sets of variables?
A major disadvantage of the experimental method is that: