A correlation coefficient shows that alcohol consumption and driving accidents are indeed related. As a result, a researcher could predict ________ if the direction of the relationship is known.
A) the number of arrests a person has will go up or down based on the type of car an individual drives
B) the number of driving accidents a person has will go up or down based on the number of alcoholic drinks consumed
C) the number of arrests will increase the fewer drinks an individual consumes
D) the number of driving accidents a person has will contribute to the number of days spent in jail

Question

A correlation coefficient shows that alcohol consumption and driving accidents are indeed related. As a result, a researcher could predict ________ if the direction of the relationship is known.
A) the number of arrests a person has will go up or down based on the type of car an individual drives
B) the number of driving accidents a person has will go up or down based on the number of alcoholic drinks consumed 
C) the number of arrests will increase the fewer drinks an individual consumes
D) the number of driving accidents a person has will contribute to the number of days spent in jail

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A correlation between alcohol consumption and driving accidents means that as one variable (alcohol consumption) increases or decreases, the other variable (driving accidents) will also increase or decrease in a predictable way. Thus, a researcher could use the correlation coefficient to predict how many driving accidents a person is likely to have based on the number of alcoholic drinks they consume. None of the other answer choices are supported by the information given.

A Correlation Coefficient Shows That Alcohol Consumption and Driving Accidents