A correlation coefficient shows that smoking and life expectancy are indeed related. As a result, a researcher could predict _____________ if the direction of the relationship is known.
A) if a person smokes a lot of cigarettes, he or she will have less money monthly to buy gas
B) the person's life expectancy will go up or down based on the number of cigarettes the person smokes daily
C) if a person smokes cigarettes, he or she will eventually develop lung cancer
D) a person's lungs will repair themselves and he or she will live a longer life

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A correlation coefficient shows a relationship between two variables, in this case smoking and life expectancy. Therefore, if the direction of the relationship is known, the researcher could predict whether life expectancy will go up or down based on the number of cigarettes the person smokes daily. Options A, C, and D are not necessarily related to the relationship between smoking and life expectancy.

A Correlation Coefficient Shows That Smoking and Life Expectancy Are