Quiz 4, Module Causal
4. You decide to draw some "Rothman Causal Pies" to help you think about how watching television might act as a cause of smoking initiation. Based on the causal pies given below and assuming that they are true, which of the following is a true statement?
T
= Television Watching
P
= Peer Pressure
L
= Low Self-Esteem
- Television watching is a necessary cause of smoking initiation.
- Television watching is a sufficient cause of smoking initiation.
- Television watching is a cause of smoking initiation that is neither necessary nor sufficient.
Answer (a) —
incorrect:
In the above model, it is possible to initiate smoking without watching television, due to a combination of peer pressure and low self-esteem. Since television watching is not present in every causal pie it is not a necessary cause.
Answer (b) —
incorrect:
In the above model, watching television alone cannot cause smoking initiation, but instead must be accompanied by peer pressure or low self-esteem. Since television watching does not have its "own pie", it is not a sufficient cause.
Answer (c) —
correct:
In the above model, watching television in the context of peer pressure or low self-esteem is a cause of initiating smoking.
