Deck 5: Causality

Question 1

The causal rule that the cause must precede (happen before) the effect is referred to as;

A) Correlation
B) Spuriousness
C) Temporal order
D) Plausibility

Answer 1

C

Question 2

If the statement, a lack of education is a cause of crime, is true then which variable must have happened first?

A) A lack of education
B) Crime
C) Neither

Answer 2

A

Question 3

If body weight increases after a sustained increase in calorie intake, then the correlation between body weight and calorie intake is;

A) Positive
B) Negative
C) Cannot be determined with the available information

Answer 3

A

Question 4

If body weight decreases after a sustained in physical exercise, then the correlation between body weight and calorie intake is;

A) Positive
B) Negative
C) Cannot be determined with the available information

Question 5

If crime increases following an increase in gang activities, then the correlation between crime and gang activity is;

A) Positive
B) Negative
C) Cannot be determined with the available information

Question 6

If crime decreases following an increase in police patrols, then the correlation between crime and police patrols is;

A) Positive
B) Negative
C) Cannot be determined with the available information

Question 7

A researcher finds a strong and positive relationship between drug use and criminal behavior. With this information alone can the researcher conclude that drug use is the cause of criminal behavior?

A) Yes, this is enough to establish a causal relationship between drug use and crime.
B) No, the researcher has failed to consider plausible alternative explanations.
C) No, it is impossible to find a cause for crime.

Question 8

If 'A' happens before 'B' and there is a predictable correlation between these two variables, is that enough to conclude that 'A' is a cause of 'B'?

A) Yes, this is enough.
B) No, the researcher has not considered plausible alternative explanations
C) No, it is impossible to establish causal relationships in social research

Question 9

When a researcher fails to confirm all three causal rules but concludes a causal relationship exist we call this relationship;

A) Reductionist
B) Ecological
C) Deductive
D) Spurious

Question 10

Spuriousness means;

A) That the researcher has made a computational error during the analysis of the data.
B) That the researcher has failed to fully establish a causal relationship between two or more variables.
C) That the relationship is totally causal
D) That the research has produced findings that may be objectionable to some people.

Question 11

A study of juvenile delinquency reveals a strong correlation between illegal drug use and delinquent acts. The researcher concludes that illegal drug use is the cause of delinquent acts. Looking at the same data, another researcher comes to the conclusion that delinquent acts lead to illegal drug use. Which causal rule are both researchers forgetting here?

A) Temporal order
B) Correlation
C) Lack of plausible alternative explanations
D) None. All three causal rules have been established

Question 12

A recent analysis of aggravated assaults in a northern city reveals that aggravated assaults tend to increase during the warmest months of the year and decrease during the coldest months of the year. In this case, we would say which of the following about the correlation between temperature and aggravated assaults;

A) The correlation is positive
B) The correlation is negative
C) There is no correlation
D) Inconclusive

Question 13

A recent analysis of domestic violence in a northern city reveals that domestic violence incidents tend to increase during the coldest months of the year (i.e. winter) and decrease during the warmest months of the year (i.e. summer) In this case, we would say which of the following about the correlation between temperature and domestic violence;

A) The correlation is positive
B) The correlation is negative
C) There is no correlation
D) Inconclusive

Question 14

A recent analysis of vehicular burglaries in a northern city reveals that, on average, there are 25 vehicular burglaries throughout the city each month. About as many occur during the winter months as do during the summer months. In this case, we would say which of the following about the correlation between temperature and vehicular burglaries;

A) The correlation is positive
B) The correlation is negative
C) There is no correlation
D) Inconclusive

Question 15

A line graph that slants higher from left to right is representative of;

A) A positive correlation
B) A negative correlation
C) No correlation
D) Inconclusive

Question 16

A line graph that slants higher from right to left is representative of;

A) A positive correlation.
B) A negative correlation
C) No correlation
D) Inconclusive

Question 17

A line graph that remains horizontal from left to right is representative of;

A) A positive correlation.
B) A negative correlation
C) No correlation
D) Inconclusive

Question 18

You have completed a study on the alleged causal relationship between the moon phase and street crime. You determined that there is no correlation between the phase of the moon and the rate of reported street crimes despite the fact that many of your colleagues in the police department strongly believe there is. Your research reveals that the relationship between the moon phase and street crime is;

A) Reductionism
B) Spurious
C) An ecological fallacy
D) Inconclusive