Back to Statistics and Probability — Problem 3 · Task Set 38

8.SP Tutor Intake — Patterns of Association in Bivariate Data

This short check helps your tutor understand where to start. Answer each question on your own, without help. If you're not sure, give your best try — the goal is to find what to work on together, not to grade you.

Grade 8·12 problems·~13 min·Common Core Math - Grade 8·domain·sp

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Concepts

A scatter plot of daily study time (hours) versus test score (%) for
a class shows a clear positive association. A student concludes:
"This proves that studying more causes higher test scores."
What is the best evaluation of this conclusion?

Correct — a clear positive association in a scatter plot proves one variable causes the other.

Incorrect — the scatter plot shows the two variables are associated, but association alone does not establish causation.

Incorrect — a positive association can never involve a causal relationship of any kind.

Correct — because study time is on the horizontal axis, it must be the cause.