Ch 9. Rival Causes

Question 1

Rival Causes

Answer 1

Other possible causes; plausible alternatives that can explain why a certain outcome occurred

Question 2

Cause

Answer 2

To bring about, make happen or affect
Something that can bring about an effect or result
Cause (X)
Result (Y)

Question 3

Detecting rival causes questions

Answer 3

1. Can I think of any other way to interpret the evidence?
2. What else might have caused this action/these findings?
3. If I looked at this event from another POV, what might I see as important causes?
4. If this interpretation is incorrect, what other interpretation might make sense?

Question 4

Fallacy of causal oversimplification

Answer 4

Explaining an event by relying on one cause that is insufficient to account for ALL causes of that event
Claiming a single cause and tricks the listeners into thinking there are no other causal factors.
Do not overgeneralize that one result must only have one cause, often times may causes

Question 5

Causation vs. association

Answer 5

Correlation/association does not mean causation

But just because it’s only correlational does not mean that it is never causation
Correlation cannot prove causation, but it can still be causation

Question 6

4 Alternative explanations for research findings based on strong associations

Answer 6

1. X is a cause of Y
2. Y is a cause of X
3. Z is a cause of Y
4. X and Y are influencing each other
5. X and Y are unrelated

Question 7

Criteria for correlation to be more likely causational

Answer 7

1. Same association found repeatedly
2. Association meaningful biologically
3. Dose-affect relationship
4. Flipping scenario makes no sense

Question 8

Fundamental attribution error

Answer 8

Bias where we overestimate the importance of personal/inherent tendencies/traits over situational/external factors in interpreting behaviors of others

We have a tendency to attribute our own behaviors to situational factors because we know our behaviors across situations