Section 3: Correlation, Predication, Confidence, and Errors How did researchers learn that smoking causes lung cancer? The process began with informal observations, as doctors noticed that a surprisingly high proportion of their patients with lung cancer were smokers. These observations led to carefully conducted studies in which researchers compared lung cancer rates among smokers and nonsmokers. These studies showed clearly that heavier smokers were more likely to develop lung cancer. In more formal terms, we say that there is a correlation between the variables amount of smoking and likelihood of lung cancer. A correlation is a special type of relationship between variables, in which a rise or fall in one goes along with a corresponding rise or fall in the other (Bennett, Briggs & Triola, 2009). In this section, you will examine correlation, estimating confidence, and margin of errors. You will also be introduced to prediction through introductory regression analysis. This is important for anticipating results in research, and in many other areas of life. Required Reading: Please refer to the Activity Resources section within each activity for required readings. Assignment 6   Correlation and Causation in the News Statistics are routinely used by journalists to explain and support claims. The news media often uncritically report on or even distort the findings of scientific studies. News articles often confound correlation and causation and report that correlations show causation when they actually do not. The difference between them is huge and confusing them can be costly in terms of money and time. As you know from your text, two variables may be correlated because one causes the other, a third variable causes both, or because of coincidence. Activity Resources · Review: Bennett, J. O., Briggs, W. L., & Triola, M. F. (2014)., Chapter 8 · McCoy, K. · Park, A. (2011, March 24). · Rochman, B. (2011, April 11). Main Task: Analyze Statistics in the News In your activity resources above are three news articles that report on scientific studies and make recommendations on the basis of them. Write a paper analyzing these articles. For each article answer these questions and give reasons for your answers: 1. What evidence does the article provide for an association (correlation) between the phenomena discussed? 2. Drawing on your text’s discussion of how to interpret correlations, what would you want to check to be confident that there is actually a correlation? 3. What is the argument that the relationship is causal? 4. Is the argument for the causal relationship convincing? 5. If the argument is not convincing, what additional evidence is needed to make a convincing argument that the relationship is causal? 6. Does it make sense to make changes in your life based on the article? Support your paper with a minimum of three (3) scholarly resources. In addition to these specified resources, other appropriate scholarly re.

1. Section 3: Correlation, Predication, Confidence, and Errors
How did researchers learn that smoking causes lung cancer? The
process began with informal observations, as doctors noticed
that a surprisingly high proportion of their patients with lung
cancer were smokers. These observations led to carefully
conducted studies in which researchers compared lung cancer
rates among smokers and nonsmokers. These studies showed
clearly that heavier smokers were more likely to develop lung
cancer. In more formal terms, we say that there is a correlation
between the variables amount of smoking and likelihood of lung
cancer. A correlation is a special type of relationship between
variables, in which a rise or fall in one goes along with a
corresponding rise or fall in the other (Bennett, Briggs &
Triola, 2009). In this section, you will examine correlation,
estimating confidence, and margin of errors. You will also be
introduced to prediction through introductory regression
analysis. This is important for anticipating results in research,
and in many other areas of life.
Required Reading:
Please refer to the Activity Resources section within each
activity for required readings.
Assignment 6 Correlation and Causation in the News
Statistics are routinely used by journalists to explain and
support claims. The news media often uncritically report on or
even distort the findings of scientific studies. News articles
often confound correlation and causation and report that
correlations show causation when they actually do not. The
difference between them is huge and confusing them can be

2. costly in terms of money and time. As you know from your text,
two variables may be correlated because one causes the other, a
third variable causes both, or because of coincidence.
Activity Resources
· Review: Bennett, J. O., Briggs, W. L., & Triola, M. F. (2014).,
Chapter 8
· McCoy, K.
· Park, A. (2011, March 24).
· Rochman, B. (2011, April 11).
Main Task: Analyze Statistics in the News
In your activity resources above are three news articles that
report on scientific studies and make recommendations on the
basis of them. Write a paper analyzing these articles. For each
article answer these questions and give reasons for your
answers:
1. What evidence does the article provide for an association
(correlation) between the phenomena discussed?
2. Drawing on your text’s discussion of how to interpret
correlations, what would you want to check to be confident that
there is actually a correlation?
3. What is the argument that the relationship is causal?
4. Is the argument for the causal relationship convincing?
5. If the argument is not convincing, what additional evidence is
needed to make a convincing argument that the relationship is
causal?
6. Does it make sense to make changes in your life based on the

3. article?
Support your paper with a minimum of three (3) scholarly
resources. In addition to these specified resources, other
appropriate scholarly resources, including older articles, may be
included.
Length: 5-7 pages not including title and reference pages
Your paper should demonstrate thoughtful consideration of the
ideas and concepts that are presented in the course and provide
new thoughts and insights relating directly to this topic. Your
response should reflect scholarly writing and current APA
standards. Be sure to adhere to Northcentral University's
Academic Integrity Policy.
Submit your document in the Course Work area below the
Activity screen.
Learning Outcomes: 5, 11
Assignment Outcomes
Compare and contrast various aspects of descriptive data
analysis and inferential data analysis. Analyze the use and
applicability of statistics in personal, professional, and
academic applications, and as a tool for research.
Sites for Required Article
http://www.everydayhealth.com/sleep/101/tips/snooze-control-
suggested-for-overweight-children.aspx
http://healthland.time.com/2011/03/24/why-going-to-church-
can-make-you-fat/
http://healthland.time.com/2011/04/11/is-parenthood-bad-for-
your-health/?iid=WBeditorspicks