The most useful correlational technique to use when one wants to test a causal hypothesis is
A) factor analysis.
B) path analysis.
C) discriminant analysis.
D) regression analysis.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Although correlation does not prove causation, path analysis is a technique that allows researchers to test causal hypotheses by incorporating both correlational and causal relationships among variables. Path analysis is used to identify the direct and indirect effects of one or more independent variables on a dependent variable while controlling for other variables. Therefore, it is an appropriate technique to test causal hypotheses. The other options, factor analysis, discriminant analysis, and regression analysis are not typically used to test causal hypotheses. Factor analysis is used to identify underlying factors in a set of variables, discriminant analysis is used to classify individuals into groups based on their scores on a set of predictor variables, and regression analysis is used to predict scores on a dependent variable based on one or more predictor variables.

The Most Useful Correlational Technique to Use When One Wants