Which of the following conditions should not necessarily be met to establish that a change in the independent variable causes a change in the dependent variable:
A)The independent and the dependent variable should co-vary: in other words,a change in the dependent variable should be associated with a change in the independent variable.
B)The independent variable (the presumed causal factor)should precede the dependent variable.In other words,there must be a time sequence in which the two occur: the cause must occur before the effect.
C)No other factor should possibly cause the change in the dependent variable.Hence,the researcher should control for the effects of other variables.
D)A third variable should modify the original relationship between the independent and the dependent variable.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

If a third variable modifies the relationship between the independent and dependent variables, then it is not necessarily true that a change in the independent variable causes a change in the dependent variable. This is because the effect of the independent variable on the dependent variable is now dependent on the presence of the third variable. Therefore, establishing causation would require controlling for the effects of the third variable, or finding ways to account for its influence in the analysis.

Which of the Following Conditions Should Not Necessarily Be Met