A study shows that the high turnover rate at a company is only caused by the domineering attitude of a middle manager. What criteria of causal inference does this example show?
A) The study was conducted in an open environment.
B) No alternative explanation exists for the correlation.
C) The presumed effect precedes the presumed cause in time.
D) The two variables are not correlated.
E) The sample size is large enough.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The study shows only one explanation for a high turnover rate, namely the domineering attitude of a middle manager. Making causal inferences requires establishing three things. First, that the two variables are correlated; second, that the presumed cause precedes the presumed effect in time; and third, that no alternative explanation exists for the correlation.

A Study Shows That the High Turnover Rate at a Company