Question:

A medical study found a negative relationship between exercise (in minutes per week) and stress-related heath problems(r=0.23).

Which of the following conclusions is appropriate? Explain why the other is not appropriate.

(a)5.29%of the variance in stress-related health problems can be explained by the amount of weekly exercise.

(b) Increasing the amount of exercise per week will cause stress-related health problems to decrease.

Conclusion (a) is appropriate. Conclusion (b) is not appropriate because correlations do not demonstrate cause.

Conclusion (a) is appropriate. Conclusion (b) is not appropriate because increasing the amount of exercise per week will cause stress-related health problems to also increase.

Conclusion (b) is appropriate. Conclusion (a) is not appropriate because it is impossible to determine the variance in stress-related health problems that can be explained by the amount of weekly exercise.

Conclusion (b) is appropriate. Conclusion (a) is not appropriate because the amount of variance that can be explained is 23%