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Can Science Cure the Common Cold?
Chapter 1, Problem 9

A relationship between two factors, for instance, between outside temperature and the number of people with active colds in a population, is known as a(n) a. a. significant result; b. correlation; c. hypothesis; d. alternative hypothesis; e. experimental test

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1
Identify the term that describes a relationship or association between two variables.
Understand that this term does not imply causation, but rather indicates a statistical link where one variable may change as another changes.
Review the options provided and eliminate those that do not directly relate to describing a relationship between two variables.
Consider the term that is commonly used in statistics to denote the type of relationship described in the problem.
Select the option that best fits the definition of a statistical relationship between two variables.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Correlation

Correlation refers to a statistical relationship between two variables, indicating how one may change in relation to the other. In the context of the question, it describes the connection between outside temperature and the incidence of colds, suggesting that as one factor changes, the other may also vary. Correlation does not imply causation; it merely indicates a pattern or trend.
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Hypothesis

A hypothesis is a testable statement or prediction about the relationship between two or more variables. It serves as a foundation for scientific investigation, guiding researchers in their experiments. In the context of the question, a hypothesis could be proposed to explore whether changes in temperature affect the number of colds, but it is distinct from correlation, which describes observed relationships.
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Experimental Test

An experimental test is a method used to investigate a hypothesis by manipulating one variable to observe its effect on another. This approach allows researchers to establish cause-and-effect relationships rather than mere associations. In the context of the question, an experimental test would involve controlling temperature conditions to see how they influence the occurrence of colds in a population.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question

If I perform a hypothesis test in which I demonstrate that the prediction I made in question 5 is true, I have                  . a. proved the hypothesis; b. supported the hypothesis; c. not falsified the hypothesis; d. B and C are correct; e. A, B, and C are correct

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Textbook Question
Control subjects in an experiment                   . a. should be similar in most ways to the experimental subjects; b. should not know whether they are in the control or experimental group; c. should have essentially the same interactions with the researchers as the experimental subjects; d. help eliminate alternative hypotheses that could explain experimental results; e. all of the above
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Textbook Question
An experiment in which neither the participants in the experiment nor the technicians collecting the data know which individuals are in the experimental group and which ones are in the control group is known as                   . a. controlled; b. biased; c. double-blind; d. falsifiable; e. unpredictable
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Textbook Question
A primary source of scientific results is                   . a. the news media; b. anecdotes from others; c. articles in peer-reviewed journals; d. the Internet; e. all of the above
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Textbook Question
A story on your local news station reports that eating a 1-ounce square of milk chocolate each day reduces the risk of heart disease in rats and that this result is statistically significant. This means that                   . a. people who eat milk chocolate are healthier than those who do not; b. the difference between chocolate-eating and chocolate-abstaining rats in heart disease rates was greater than expected by chance; c. rats like milk chocolate; d. milk chocolate reduces the risk of heart disease; e. two ounces of milk chocolate per day is likely to be even better for heart health than 1 ounce
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Textbook Question
What features of the story on milk chocolate and heart health described in question 11 should cause you to consider the results less convincing? a. The study was sponsored by a large milk chocolate manufacturer; b. A total of 10 rats were used in the study; c. The only difference between the rats was that human participants of the experimental group received chocolate along with their regular diets, and the human participants of the control group received no additional food; d. The reporter notes that other studies indicate milk chocolate does not have a beneficial effect on heart health; e. all of the above
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