An observational study found that the amount of sleep an employee gets each night is associated with job performance. The correlation coefficient was found to be r=0.86. A reader of the study concluded that more sleep causes employees to perform better. Why is such a conclusion not correct?

A) The correlation value should equal 1 for such a conclusion.

B) The correlation value should be negative for such a conclusion.

C) The sample was not representative of the population.

D) Causation cannot be determined from an observational study.

E) The correlation value implies that less than 75% of the variability in job performance can be explained by sleep.

Question

Mathematics

Rhett Wood

21 August, 23:42

An observational study found that the amount of sleep an employee gets each night is associated with job performance. The correlation coefficient was found to be r=0.86. A reader of the study concluded that more sleep causes employees to perform better. Why is such a conclusion not correct?

A) The correlation value should equal 1 for such a conclusion.

B) The correlation value should be negative for such a conclusion.

C) The sample was not representative of the population.

D) Causation cannot be determined from an observational study.

E) The correlation value implies that less than 75% of the variability in job performance can be explained by sleep.

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Answers (1)

Know the Answer?

Alicia Huber · Answer 1

The correct option is D.) Causation cannot be determined from an observational study.

Step-by-step explanation:

The conclusion is not correct because

D.) Causation cannot be determined from an observational study.

Causation determined from an observational study is speculative and cannot be confirmed without data from a real experiment.