Problem-Solving and Data AnalysisMediumData that would test a causal claim
Problem-Solving and Data Analysis practice question
A study finds that towns with more public libraries have higher adult literacy rates. Which additional data would most directly help test whether libraries CAUSE higher literacy?
- A. Literacy rates in towns before and after new libraries opened, compared with literacy rates over the same years in similar towns that got no library.Correct
- B. The number of books held by each library.
- C. The age of each library building.
- D. A larger survey of literacy in the same towns.
Answer: A. Literacy rates in towns before and after new libraries opened, compared with literacy rates over the same years in similar towns that got no library.
Comparing changes over time in towns that gained a library with changes in similar towns that didn't separates the library's effect from other town differences.
Why the other answers are wrong
- B. The number of books held by each library.
- Book counts describe the libraries, not their effect on literacy.
- C. The age of each library building.
- Building age is irrelevant to the causal question.
- D. A larger survey of literacy in the same towns.
- A bigger survey measures the same association more precisely; it doesn't test causation.
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