Suppose you were given the results of a large sample of 11-year-old students, all of whom were given the 4th Edition of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-IV). The data were analyzed and, unsurprisingly, a statistically significant correlation was found between scores on the Vocabulary subtest of the WISC-IV and WISC Total IQ. A statistically significant correlation was also found between WISC-IV Vocabulary scores and total years of parents' schooling. What do these findings tell you?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Even if variable A has a significant correlation with both variable B and variable C, it does not necessarily follow that the same relationship exists between variable B and variable C. For example, there may be a very high correlation between being a girl and need for therapy for depression in adolescence and also a very high correlation between being a girl and having played with dolls as a youngster, but no significant correlation between playing or not playing with dolls and later developing or not developing depression. Also, significant correlations indicate the likelihood of two conditions coexisting; they do not indicate an absolute relationship where neither condition can exist without the other.

Suppose You Were Given the Results of a Large Sample