A study examined the relationship between years spent smoking and attitudes toward quitting by asking participants to rate their optimism for the success of a treatment program.If there were a negative relationship between these variables,what should the results of the study be like?
A) The more years spent smoking,the more optimistic for success.
B) The fewer years spent smoking,the less optimistic for success.
C) The more years spent smoking,the less optimistic for success.
D) The fewer years spent smoking,the fewer participants they could find.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A negative relationship means that as one variable increases, the other variable decreases. In this case, if there were a negative relationship between years spent smoking and attitudes toward quitting, the more years spent smoking, the less optimistic participants would be for the success of a treatment program. Therefore, C is the correct answer. A and B are opposite to what we would expect in a negative relationship, and D is not a relevant or plausible choice.

A Study Examined the Relationship Between Years Spent Smoking and Attitudes