A researcher conducts a survey examining eating and sleeping behavior as well as academic performance for a group of elementary school children. The results of the survey indicate that the children who eat a more nutritious breakfast tend to have better grades than the children who have a breakfast low in nutrition. However, the research suspects that the children's parents may be responsible for this relationship. Specifically, the better-educated parents probably encourage their children to eat better food and work harder in school compared to parents with less education. If the researcher is correct, this is an example of the ____.
A) third-variable problem
B) directionality problem
C) reversal problem
D) criterion problem

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The third-variable problem occurs when a third variable, such as parents' education level, may be responsible for the relationship observed between two other variables, in this case, breakfast nutrition and academic performance. The directionality problem occurs when the direction of cause-and-effect cannot be determined. The reversal problem occurs when the cause-and-effect relationship may actually be the opposite of what is expected. The criterion problem pertains to issues surrounding how variables are measured or defined.

A Researcher Conducts a Survey Examining Eating and Sleeping Behavior