Question

Which of the following statements are reasons why researchers may include multiple predictor variables in a study?

O reason(s) doing so allows researchers to control for multiple third variables at the same time.
O press space to open doing so allows researchers to consider different factors that might predict the criterion variable.
O press space to open doing so allows researchers to make causal claims.
O press space to open doing so allows researchers to establish temporal precedence.

Answer 1

Researchers use multiple predictor variables to control for confounding factors and consider various influencing factors on the criterion variable. This enhances the analysis but does not confirm causality.

Step-by-step explanation:

Researchers include multiple predictor variables in a study for several reasons. To begin with, including multiple variables allows them to control for multiple confounding variables simultaneously, which can help clarify the relationship between the main variables of interest.

Additionally, using multiple predictor variables allows researchers to consider different factors that might influence the criterion variable, thus providing a more comprehensive understanding of the underlying phenomena.

However, it is important to note that including multiple predictors does not enable researchers to make causal claims, as causality requires rigorous experimental design, often including randomization and control groups to establish temporal precedence and rule out confounding factors. Regression analysis often uses multiple variables to assess the relationships, but it does not inherently confirm causation.