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Figure 2.11 Prediction of Job Performance From Three Predictor Variables
Multiple regression allows scientists to predict the scores on a single outcome variable using more than one
predictor variable.
An important limitation of correlational research designs is that they cannot be used to draw
conclusions about the causal relationships among the measured variables. Consider, for instance,
a researcher who has hypothesized that viewing violent behavior will cause increased aggressive
play in children. He has collected, from a sample of fourth-grade children, a measure of how
many violent television shows each child views during the week, as well as a measure of how
aggressively each child plays on the school playground. From his collected data, the researcher
discovers a positive correlation between the two measured variables.