Listed below are numerous bivariate relationships; data is graphed for each; all

Question

Listed below are numerous bivariate relationships; data is graphed for each; all graphs suggest a correlation. For each, please answer the following: 1. Please state which of the following correlations imply causation or not, and why or why not. Remember correlations must be based on valid theory to imply causation. 2. More specifically, are the relationships direct, spurious, intervening or interactive? If it is one of the latter two (intervening or interactive), please offer an additional variable that might explain the true causal relationship. A) Blood pressure and age B) Amount of fat in diets and cancer rates C) Japanese passenger cars sold in US and suicides by crashing of motor vehicle D) Math doctorates awarded and suicides by hanging

Explanation / Answer

The type of correlation and their reasons are stated as below :

A.) The correaltion between Blood pressure and Age implies causation and is direct since Age is a very influencing factor in the blood presure levels of individuals. Thus the correlation makes sense.

B.) The correlation between the amount of fat in diets and cancer rates implies causation as the excessive fat content in our food is obviously not good for our health.Too much fat in diet leads to issues such as weight gain,blood composition problems, etc which in turn lead to cancer.Hence fat in diet is the intervening factor causing cancer.

C.) The correlation between the Japanese passenger cars sold in US and suicides by crashing of motot vehicles doesnot imply causation at all since the attempts of suicide will no how be related to the make of the car.Hence it is spurious correlation.

D.) The correlation between Maths doctorate awarded and suicides by hanging cannot imply causation as improvement in education levels can no how be a reason for suicides.

F.) The correlation between Income inequality and health and social problems implies causation and are the intervening factors as inequality among the people on various grounde in income will necessarily influence the affordability of medical treatments giving rise to health issues.Thus, a social imbalance can definitely be a reason for the social issues.

G.) The correlation between education level and well being definitely implies causation and here education is the intervening factor as the education level determines the morals, income of the person and hence the standard of living and affordability . So the relation between the education level and the well being is well related.

H.) The correlation between Honey bees and drug possession doesnot imply causation and is spurious. The population of insects has nothing to account for the drugs in the society.

I.) The correlation between Wealth and Well being implies causation as income is the underlying factor determining the ability to meet the daily necessities and hence influences the well being of an individual.

J.) The correlation between the per capita cheese consumption and number of people died by becoming tangled to bedsheets is completely spurious as one cannot be held to be the cause for the other.

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