A researcher analyzes data from the General Social Survey and finds that individuals' with high personal incomes tend to be happier than individuals' with low personal incomes. He is not sure, however, whether it is happiness that increases the likelihood of individuals' financial well-being, whether financial well-being brings about greater happiness. The best way to describe the researcher's finding is:
A) The researcher has found an intersectional relationship between happiness and personal income.
B) The researcher has found a causal relationship between happiness and personal income.
C) The researcher has found a correlation between happiness and personal income.
D) The researcher has found a spurious relationship between happiness and personal income.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The researcher has identified a correlation, which means there is a relationship between happiness and personal income, but it does not imply causation or the direction of the relationship.

A Researcher Analyzes Data from the General Social Survey and Finds