Question

Alma wants to prove to her parents that listening to music while she studies for her tests will help her get better grades. She decides to ask 15 of her friends if they listen to music while they study for tests and what their grades are. She finds that her friends who have high grades also listen to music while they study for tests. She tells her parents that she has proven that listening to music while studying for tests will cause her grades to improve. What mistake has Alma made?

Answer 1

@mathmale @ganeshie8

Answer 2

@BritBratt13

Answer 3

@mathstudent55 @SolomonZelman

Answer 4

@dan815

Answer 5

someone please just help me!

Answer 6

i think the mistake is that she did not use a random sample, and she tried to show cause and effect in a observtional study. am i right?

Answer 7

these are the choices:

She did not separate her friends into different groups, and she didn't apply a treatment.
She did not separate her friends into different groups, and she used a survey to collect data.
She did not use a random sample, and she tried to show cause and effect with an experiment.
She did not use a random sample, and she tried to show cause and effect with an observational study.

Answer 8

Maybe the music doesn't impact anything what so ever (or even makes it worse for the students to do well) and it is just that they do well. (First thing from my head).

Answer 9

I wish it was as simple as that @SolomonZelman. But from the answers what do you think it could be?