Using a sample of young adolescents,Dr.Nguyen finds a correlation of .55 between scores on a measure of neglectful or uninvolved parenting and scores on a measure of delinquent behaviour.Which of the following might Dr.Nguyen legitimately conclude?
A) Uninvolved parenting causes juvenile delinquency.
B) Parenting that is more uninvolved is related to a higher degree of delinquent behaviour.
C) Uninvolved parenting is unrelated to delinquency.
D) There is a negative relationship between uninvolved parenting and delinquent behaviour.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The correlation coefficient of .55 indicates a positive relationship between neglectful or uninvolved parenting and delinquent behavior. However, correlation does not prove causation, and it is not possible to conclude that uninvolved parenting causes juvenile delinquency. Option C is incorrect as there is a relationship between uninvolved parenting and delinquency. Option D is incorrect as a negative relationship suggests that as one variable increases, the other decreases, which is not supported by the correlation coefficient in this case. Option B is the best choice as it accurately describes the relationship indicated by the correlation coefficient.

Using a Sample of Young Adolescents,Dr