Professor Li conducts a study of the relationship between college students' levels of sex guilt and their levels of sexual activity. She finds that respondents low in sex guilt report significantly higher levels of sexual activity than those high in sex guilt. Which of the following processes could explain these findings?
A) High sex guilt inhibits sexual activity.
B) Engaging in high levels of sexual activity reduces sex guilt.
C) Some unmeasured third variable causes both increases in sexual activity and decreases in sex guilt.
D) Any of the above could be explanations.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The findings could be explained by any of the processes listed: high sex guilt could inhibit sexual activity (A), engaging in high levels of sexual activity could reduce sex guilt (B), or some unmeasured third variable could cause both increases in sexual activity and decreases in sex guilt (C). Each of these explanations is plausible and could account for the observed relationship between sex guilt and sexual activity.

Professor Li Conducts a Study of the Relationship Between College