Which of the following criticisms of the Spotlight on Research study is LEAST valid?
A) Hugging, in and of itself, may not be the mechanism at play.
B) The data collected in this study allow for causal inferences.
C) The type of hug, romantic or friendly, was not accounted for by the researchers.
D) Who was being hugged was not accounted for by the researchers.

Question

Which of the following criticisms of the Spotlight on Research study is LEAST valid? 
A) Hugging, in and of itself, may not be the mechanism at play.
B) The data collected in this study allow for causal inferences.
C) The type of hug, romantic or friendly, was not accounted for by the researchers.
D) Who was being hugged was not accounted for by the researchers.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The criticism that the data collected in this study allow for causal inferences is the least valid because the study was a correlational study and did not establish causal relationships between hugging and health outcomes. The other criticisms are more valid as they highlight potential confounding variables that were not accounted for in the study.

Which of the Following Criticisms of the Spotlight on Research