Exploring Scatter Plots, Correlation, and Causation

What is the purpose of a scatter plot?

• To display a single variable over time

• To show the relationship between two variables

• To illustrate a sequence of events

• To compare multiple categories

Which of the following best describes a positive correlation?

• Both variables remain constant

• As one variable increases, the other also increases

• There is no relationship between the variables

• As one variable increases, the other decreases

What is an example of a negative correlation?

• The height of a person and their weight

• The amount of time selling popcorn and the number of boxes left

• The number of cars in a parking lot and the number of pine cones on a tree

• The number of oranges in a bag and the weight of the bag

What does it mean if there is no correlation between two variables?

• The variables are directly related

• The variables are inversely related

• There is no discernible pattern between the variables

• Both variables increase together

What is a cluster in a scatter plot?

• A group of points that form the main trend

• A perfectly straight line

• A single point far from the trend

• The general direction of the data

How should outliers be treated when analyzing correlation?

• They should be ignored

• They should be included in the analysis

• They should be given more weight

• They should be removed from the data set

What is the main difference between correlation and causation?

• Causation implies correlation

• Correlation implies causation

• Correlation shows a direct cause-effect relationship

• Causation shows no relationship between variables

Which of the following is an example of causation?

• Eating more cheese and earning more doctorate degrees

• The number of cars in a parking lot and the number of pine cones on a tree

• The height of a person and the number of blossoms on a shrub

• The number of classes missed and lower exam scores

What does a negative correlation between exercise and heart disease imply?

• Exercise has no effect on heart disease

• Heart disease causes more exercise

• More exercise decreases the probability of heart disease

• More exercise increases the probability of heart disease

Why is the relationship between chocolate consumption and Nobel prizes considered a correlation?

• Because eating chocolate directly causes winning Nobel prizes

• Because both variables increase together without a direct cause-effect relationship

• Because there is no relationship between the two variables

• Because chocolate consumption decreases Nobel prizes