Using correlational studies, psychologists have studied whether exposure to violence in the media leads to violent behaviour. They have found that participants who have been exposed to more violence in the media are, in general, more violent. It is not clear from such research which one causes the other. The problem in interpreting these results involves:
A) directionality
B) selection bias
C) sampling error
D) confounds

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The problem with interpreting correlational studies on exposure to violence in the media and violent behavior is directionality, meaning it is unclear which variable is causing the other. In this case, it is unclear whether exposure to media violence causes more violent behavior or whether individuals who are predisposed to violent behavior seek out more violent media content. Therefore, directionality is the best choice for this question. Selection bias and sampling error would relate to issues with the selection or representation of the sample, while confounds refer to extraneous variables that interfere with the relationship between the independent and dependent variables.

Using Correlational Studies, Psychologists Have Studied Whether Exposure to Violence