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A report says, “Students who use a weekly planner tend to have higher course grades.” A headline rewrites this as, “Using a weekly planner raises students' course grades.”
Which sentence states an association, and which sentence makes a causal claim?
Hints
- Look for wording that only says two variables occur together.
- Look for wording that says one variable produces a change in the other.
- Focus on the difference between “tend to have” and “raises.”
Solution
1. “Students who use a weekly planner tend to have higher course grades” describes two variables occurring together, so it states an association.
2. “Using a weekly planner raises students' course grades” says that one variable produces a change in the other, so it makes a causal claim.
Answer
The report states an association. The headline makes a causal claim.
