CMN 102 EXAM #2 QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 2026
Which of the following is NOT one of the core three elements needed to demonstrate
causality?
-Lack of supriousness
-Association/
-Temporal priority
-Plausibility - ANSWERS-Plausibility
Association, when discussing causality, means:
-The two variables occur in the same population
-When one variable changes, the other changes
-One happens before the other
-No other variable predicts both variables - ANSWERS-When one variable changes, the
other changes
My research tests the hypothesis that brunettes are less likely than redheads to be left-
handed. I get the following observations:
Brunette lefties: 5
Brunette righties: 104
Redhead lefties: 7
Redhead righties: 106
From this, can I conclude, for the purposes of research, that hair color and being left-
handed are associated?
-Yes; the proportion of redheads who are lefties is greater than the proportion of
brunettes
-No; the difference might be due to random error
-No; all brunettes would need to be left-handed
-No association because this doesn't make sense - ANSWERS-No; the difference might
be due to random error
With each of the following names the method of establishing temporal priority that
involves measuring the same things multiple times and checking to see if the IV
measured at one time is associated with the DV measured at a later time?
-Longitudinal study
-Covariance
-Statistical control
-Experiment - ANSWERS-Longitudinal study
, Which of the following methods for establishing temporal priority also establishes lack of
spuriousness?
-Longitudinal study
-Experiments
-Covariance
-Statistical control - ANSWERS-Experiments
Left-handed people have a shorter life expectancy than right-handed people, by about
two years. This relationship is very robust, having been demonstrated in dozens of
longitudinal studies. The usual explanation is that it's just a little more dangerous and
stressful for lefties, because they live in a world made for right-handed people. So they
die earlier.
Imagine that a researcher identifies a gene that both increases the likelihood of a
person being left-handed AND the susceptibility of a person to certain diseases of aging
(e.g., heart disease, hypertension, diabetes).
In this case, we would say that the link between hair color and handedness is:
-Misanthropic
-Post-modern
-Spurious
-Causal - ANSWERS-Spurious
Dr. Fargarsen does a study in which he uses several different IVs to predict the same
DV--school aggression. His IVs include parental supervision, peer norms, and violent
video game play. Although parental supervision and peer norms are significantly
associated with aggression, violent video game play is not.
From this finding, Dr. Fargarsen can conclude that:
-None of these
-Violent video games do not cause school aggression
-Violent video games cause school aggression
-School aggression causes violent video games - ANSWERS-None of these
Frequently, when I look at statistical results, there is a little 'p' with some numbers
associated with it. Things like, "p = .31" or "p <.001". In this case, p refers to:
-The probability that the observed association or difference is due to chance
-The preponderance of evidence
-The degree of preferment for the hypothesis
-The number of problems with the statistical test - ANSWERS-The probability that the
observed association or difference is due to chance
There is a well-documented association between watching TV and increased odds of
being overweight. This happens as watching TV causes people to eat more calories
(mostly sugary drinks and snack foods), which leads to weight gain.
In the relationship between TV watching and being overweight, calorie intake is the:
-Confound
-Spuriousness
-Moderator
-Mediator - ANSWERS-Mediator
ANSWERS 2026
Which of the following is NOT one of the core three elements needed to demonstrate
causality?
-Lack of supriousness
-Association/
-Temporal priority
-Plausibility - ANSWERS-Plausibility
Association, when discussing causality, means:
-The two variables occur in the same population
-When one variable changes, the other changes
-One happens before the other
-No other variable predicts both variables - ANSWERS-When one variable changes, the
other changes
My research tests the hypothesis that brunettes are less likely than redheads to be left-
handed. I get the following observations:
Brunette lefties: 5
Brunette righties: 104
Redhead lefties: 7
Redhead righties: 106
From this, can I conclude, for the purposes of research, that hair color and being left-
handed are associated?
-Yes; the proportion of redheads who are lefties is greater than the proportion of
brunettes
-No; the difference might be due to random error
-No; all brunettes would need to be left-handed
-No association because this doesn't make sense - ANSWERS-No; the difference might
be due to random error
With each of the following names the method of establishing temporal priority that
involves measuring the same things multiple times and checking to see if the IV
measured at one time is associated with the DV measured at a later time?
-Longitudinal study
-Covariance
-Statistical control
-Experiment - ANSWERS-Longitudinal study
, Which of the following methods for establishing temporal priority also establishes lack of
spuriousness?
-Longitudinal study
-Experiments
-Covariance
-Statistical control - ANSWERS-Experiments
Left-handed people have a shorter life expectancy than right-handed people, by about
two years. This relationship is very robust, having been demonstrated in dozens of
longitudinal studies. The usual explanation is that it's just a little more dangerous and
stressful for lefties, because they live in a world made for right-handed people. So they
die earlier.
Imagine that a researcher identifies a gene that both increases the likelihood of a
person being left-handed AND the susceptibility of a person to certain diseases of aging
(e.g., heart disease, hypertension, diabetes).
In this case, we would say that the link between hair color and handedness is:
-Misanthropic
-Post-modern
-Spurious
-Causal - ANSWERS-Spurious
Dr. Fargarsen does a study in which he uses several different IVs to predict the same
DV--school aggression. His IVs include parental supervision, peer norms, and violent
video game play. Although parental supervision and peer norms are significantly
associated with aggression, violent video game play is not.
From this finding, Dr. Fargarsen can conclude that:
-None of these
-Violent video games do not cause school aggression
-Violent video games cause school aggression
-School aggression causes violent video games - ANSWERS-None of these
Frequently, when I look at statistical results, there is a little 'p' with some numbers
associated with it. Things like, "p = .31" or "p <.001". In this case, p refers to:
-The probability that the observed association or difference is due to chance
-The preponderance of evidence
-The degree of preferment for the hypothesis
-The number of problems with the statistical test - ANSWERS-The probability that the
observed association or difference is due to chance
There is a well-documented association between watching TV and increased odds of
being overweight. This happens as watching TV causes people to eat more calories
(mostly sugary drinks and snack foods), which leads to weight gain.
In the relationship between TV watching and being overweight, calorie intake is the:
-Confound
-Spuriousness
-Moderator
-Mediator - ANSWERS-Mediator
