Which statement best explains the correlation and causation for the statement, “The number of red lights run has decreased as the amount of parking lot spots has increased”?(1 point)

Responses

There is a negative correlation, but a causation exists between the two data items.
There is a negative correlation, but a causation exists between the two data items.

There is a positive correlation, but no causation exists between the two data items.
There is a positive correlation, but no causation exists between the two data items.

There is no correlation, but a possible causation exists between the two data items.
There is no correlation, but a possible causation exists between the two data items.

There is no correlation or causation for this situation.
There is no correlation or causation for this situation.

1 answer

The statement “The number of red lights run has decreased as the amount of parking lot spots has increased” suggests a relationship between two variables: the number of red lights run and the number of parking lot spots.

Given the options provided, the best response is:

There is a negative correlation, but a causation exists between the two data items.

This is because as the number of parking spots increases, it is possible that this leads to decreased instances of running red lights due to various factors such as reduced congestion or better traffic flow, suggesting a causative link, even though it might not be a direct one. However, it's important to note that correlation does not imply causation, but based on the phrasing of the question, this option aligns most closely with the idea that the two may be related.