Imagine that data from survey research uncovers a strong positive correlation between education level and reading ability. Which of the following causal conclusions can be drawn?
A)more education causes better reading skills
B)having better reading skills causes people to pursue education for longer
C)reading more when you are younger leads to better reading skills, and a greater tendency to stay in school
D)none of these response options is correct; correlation and causation are not the same thing
E)reading books influences education level, and vice versa

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Correlation does not imply causation. The fact that two variables are correlated (in this case, education level and reading ability) does not necessarily mean that one causes the other. There could be other factors at play, or the relationship could be coincidental.

Imagine That Data from Survey Research Uncovers a Strong Positive