If a researcher finds that there is a correlation between secondhand smoke and children's asthma, he knows for SURE that _____.
A) secondhand smoke causes children's asthma
B) secondhand smoke does not cause children's asthma
C) prenatal exposure to smoking leads to asthma
D) asthma and secondhand smoke have some connection

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A correlation between two variables indicates that they are related in some way, but it does not necessarily mean that one variable causes the other. In this case, the researcher has found a correlation between secondhand smoke and children's asthma, which suggests that there is some connection between the two. However, it does not prove that secondhand smoke causes asthma or vice versa. Other factors could be contributing to the relationship between these variables. Therefore, the best choice is D, which acknowledges the correlation without making any causal claims. The information does not provide any evidence for prenatal exposure to smoking as an explanation, so C can be eliminated as a possibility. A and B are also not supported by the information because correlation does not equal causation.

If a Researcher Finds That There Is a Correlation Between