A man and woman who are both tall (he is 6 feet tall and she is 5 feet, 10 inches) have four children; which child represents regression to the mean for height?
A) Janet who is 5 feet tall
B) Amy who is 5 feet, 1 inch tall
C) Laura who is 5 feet, 5 inches tall
D) John who is 6 feet, 2 inches tall

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Regression to the mean predicts that the extreme values of a trait (in this case, tall height) that are present in the parents will be diluted in their offspring. Laura, who is 5 feet 5 inches, is closer to the average height than her parents, making her the best representation of regression to the mean for height.

A Man and Woman Who Are Both Tall (He Is