Question

Rejecting the null hypothesis that the population slope is equal to zero or no relationship and concluding that the relationship between x and y is significant does not enable one to conclude that a cause-and-effect relationship is present between x and y. Explain why.

Answer 1

Result:

Rejecting the null hypothesis that the population slope is equal to zero or no relationship and concluding that the relationship between x and y is significant does not enable one to conclude that a cause-and-effect relationship is present between x and y. Explain why.

Rejecting the null hypothesis that the population slope is equal to zero means only there is significant relationship between x and y.

A cause-effect relationship is a relationship in which one event (the cause) makes another event happen (the effect). The main criterion is that the cause has to occur before the effect. Whenever the cause occurs, the effect must also occur.

In our case the regression is significant but whether x precedes the y is not given. Therefore we not able to conclude that a cause-and-effect relationship is present between x and y.