Question

Identify the direction and all possible interpretations of each of the following correlations. Be sure to identify each example as positive, negative, or zero (not correlated). Then give all possible causal interpretations for the results.


Many students in Professor Handel’s class express that they want a review session. Professor Handel agrees to hold an open review session for two hours the day before the exam. He then has his TA write down when each student arrives at the session and when they depart. When the exams are graded, Professor Handel announces there will be no more review sessions. The longer students spent at the review session the lower their score on the exam.

Answer 1

For positive correlation both variables increase/decrease together.

For negative correlation, one variable increases, while the other decreases.

If there is a correlation significantly greater than chance, either one variable causes the other or a third variable might be effecting the other two.

I'll let you do the interpretations.

Answer 2

negative correlation
interpretation that the longer the students reviewed impacted their exam grade