Quiz 7, Module Causal
7. Which of the criteria that you reviewed above is the one that is essential for TV watching to be a cause of smoking initiation?
Answer (a) —
incorrect:
It is possible for a factor to be causal even if we do not know the exact biological mechanism by which it operates.
Answer (b) —
incorrect:
It is possible that there is a threshold effect of TV viewing, so that only after a certain length of viewing it is harmful.
Answer (c) —
correct:
By the definition of cause, the cause must precede the effect. Temporality is the only 'required' criterion in the evaluation of causality.
