Question

The correlation coefficient for blood pressure and amount of vegetables eaten in a group of people is −0.7. Analyze the following statement: High blood pressure is caused by not eating vegetables.

Is this a reasonable conclusion?
No; blood pressure and eating vegetables are completely unrelated
No; even though there is a strong negative correlation, not eating vegetables doesn't necessarily cause high blood pressure
Yes; eating vegetables reduces blood pressure, so the opposite is also true
Yes; the correlation coefficient is below −0.5, so that implies causation

Answer 1

No, even though there is a strong negative correlation, not eating vegetables doesn’t necessarily cause high blood pressure

Answer 2

Answer: No; even though there is a strong negative correlation, not eating vegetables doesn't necessarily cause high blood pressure

Explanation:

• Causation is a type of correlation where one variable if affects the other variable directly.

Given: The correlation coefficient for blood pressure and amount of vegetables eaten in a group of people is −0.7.

The value of correlation coefficient lies between -0.6 and 0.79, i.e. there is a strong negative correlation between blood pressure and eating vegetables .

But correlation does not imply causation.

Therefore, the given conclusion is not reasonable .