Question

A researcher analyzing an unpublished study results finds a +0.49 correlation between a test of emotional stress and a test of psychological stress. Hypothesizing about a common factor, trauma, the researcher would most likely conclude that:

A. performance on the emotional stress test is independent of trauma
B. both tests allow for a definitive estimation of trauma experienced by the test subject
C. performance on both tests is partially influenced by trauma
D. neither of the tests measures trauma-related stress

Answer 1

A +0.49 positive correlation between tests of emotional stress and psychological stress suggests a partial influence from a common factor like trauma, but correlation does not imply causation.

Step-by-step explanation:

A researcher analyzing an unpublished study results finds a +0.49 correlation between a test of emotional stress and a test of psychological stress. Upon hypothesizing about a common factor such as trauma, the researcher would most likely conclude that performance on both tests is partially influenced by trauma (C). This is because a positive correlation indicates that as scores on one test increase, scores on the other test tend to also increase, suggesting that there may be a shared factor, such as trauma, that affects both emotional and psychological stress. However, it is important to remember that correlation does not imply causation, and thus, the results cannot definitively determine the extent of trauma or that it is the sole cause of stress indicated by the tests.