After collecting data, a researcher determines that states that have instituted a death penalty have shown a decrease in murders. Assuming that the data are accurate, what can you safely conclude?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The data directly indicates a correlation between the institution of the death penalty and a decrease in murders in those states, allowing for the conclusion that there are fewer murders in states with the death penalty, based on the provided data. Other options speculate on causation or effects not directly supported by the stated data.  There is no cause and effect demonstrated. A positive correlation between the death penalty and fewer murders only indicates that the two sets of data are related in a systematic way.

After Collecting Data, a Researcher Determines That States That Have