Final answer:
The relationship between telephone ownership and credit is complex. Not having a telephone may indicate potential economic disadvantages, which could result in challenges that affect credit scores. However, without definitive data, we cannot claim a direct causation between the lack of a phone and bad credit.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that "People who have no telephone may be more likely to have bad credit than those who do" cannot be answered with a simple true or false response without further contextual information. However, it is important to consider that there could be a correlation between not having a telephone and potential economic disadvantages, which could, in turn, affect credit scores.
When considering sources of bias in data collection, it's clear that not everyone has equal access to technology like telephones. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported significant trends toward exclusive cell phone usage over landlines, which could imply that those without any phone may represent a socio-economically disadvantaged population. This population may have more barriers to establishing good credit, such as lack of access to traditional banking and credit systems.
Furthermore, a person's credit score is influenced by various factors, including bill payment history and the ratio of credit used to credit available. Those without telephones might face difficulties in managing these aspects of their finances, possibly leading to lower credit scores. Owning a phone also carries with it responsibilities, and managing them successfully can contribute to better credit.
In summary, the relationship between phone ownership and credit scores is complex, and while one could infer that not having a phone is a potential indicator of economic challenges that could lead to bad credit, it is not a definitive or direct causation.