A researcher selects an SRS of 1,000 adults from a state and records hours of weekly exercise and self-reported happiness. She finds a positive association.
Which conclusion is justified?
- A
Exercise causes happiness in this state
- Bcheck_circle
The association generalizes to the state population, but cause-and-effect cannot be established
- C
Happiness causes exercise in this state
- D
Neither generalization nor causation is supported
Explanation
Random sampling supports generalization to the state. Without random assignment (it's observational), we cannot infer causation due to potential confounders.