58. A clinic recently completed an exercise trial. The researcher found that the more time a person spent running on a treadmill, the more calories that person burned. Which type of relationship is demonstrated?
Answer: B
Positive association
The data indicates that as the time spent running on a treadmill increases, so does the number of calories burned, demonstrating a positive relationship between these two variables.
A) Negative association
A negative association would imply that as one variable increases, the other decreases. This is not the case here, as the research shows that increased treadmill time correlates with more calories burned.
B) Positive association
A positive association indicates that both variables move in the same direction. In this context, the more time individuals spend running, the more calories they burn, thus confirming a positive association.
C) Negative causation
Negative causation suggests that one variable negatively impacts the other, leading to a decrease in the second variable. This is not applicable in this scenario, as the relationship shows an increase in calories burned with more running time.
D) Positive causation
While this option indicates a positive relationship, causation implies that running causes an increase in calorie burn. The exercise trial suggests a correlation rather than a definitive causal relationship, making this option less accurate than a simple positive association.
Conclusion
The correct answer, a positive association, is supported by the clear trend that longer running times lead to increased calorie burn. All other options misinterpret the relationship, either suggesting an inverse correlation or incorrectly implying causation without sufficient evidence.