lie Knope finds a moderate, negative correlation between number of salads eaten and happiness. Which best describes her findings? 1. As the number of salads eaten increases, happiness stays the same 2. As the number of salads eaten increases, happiness increases 3. As the number of salads eaten increases, happiness decreases 4. Eating salads causes a decrease in happiness
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The best match for the given scenario is:
3. As the number of salads eaten increases, happiness decreases.
Explanation:
When discussing correlations, particularly negative correlations, it means that there is an inverse relationship between two variables. In this case, the variable “number of salads eaten” and “happiness” are being analyzed. A negative correlation suggests that as one variable increases, the other tends to decrease.
In the scenario, the negative correlation indicates that as the number of salads eaten increases, the happiness experienced by the individual tends to decrease. This doesn’t mean that eating salads directly causes unhappiness, but rather, there is a statistical relationship showing that more salads eaten are associated with lower levels of happiness. This could be due to a variety of factors, such as salads being seen as less enjoyable compared to other foods or perhaps the person eating them under circumstances where they are not fully satisfied.
It’s important to note that a negative correlation doesn’t necessarily imply causation. It only shows that the two variables are related in a specific pattern. So, while the correlation suggests that eating more salads might be linked to lower happiness, it doesn’t mean eating salads directly causes unhappiness (which would be suggested in option 4). The actual reasons behind this relationship would need further investigation and possibly additional data to confirm the underlying cause.
Thus, the answer is: Option 3.
