Question

case study: correlation vs. causation
directions: read the summary of a fictional study below. then, answer the questions to practice distinguishing between correlation and causation.
study summary: researchers tracked 500 adults over one year. they found that individuals with a higher diversity of gut bacteria were less likely to develop a common cold compared to those with lower diversity.

1. what is the correlation shown in this study? describe the relationship observed between gut diversity and the frequency of common colds.

Explanation:

The study tracked 500 adults and found that those with higher gut - bacteria diversity had a lower frequency of common colds compared to those with lower diversity. This shows a positive correlation between gut - bacteria diversity and the frequency of common colds, where higher diversity is associated with fewer colds. However, correlation does not imply causation. There could be other factors at play, such as overall health, diet, or lifestyle, that influence both gut - bacteria diversity and the likelihood of getting a cold.

Answer:

There is a negative correlation between gut - bacteria diversity and the frequency of common colds, meaning higher gut - bacteria diversity is associated with a lower frequency of common colds, but it does not necessarily mean that high gut - bacteria diversity causes fewer colds.