In a Study of National Hockey League Statistics, the Data

question 32

Essay

In a study of National Hockey League statistics, the data of Stanley cups wins per team and the number of
fights on the ice during Stanley cup play- off games was compared. It is found that there is a positive correlation between the number of fights on the ice of a NHL team and the number of Stanley cup wins for that team. That is, NHL teams with more fights on the ice tend to have more Stanley cups. A sportscaster makes the following statement: "If a team wants to win a Stanley cup the players should start as many fights on the ice as possible." What is wrong with the sportscaster's statement?

---

Definitions:

Tertiary Circular Reactions

A stage in Piaget's theory of development where infants (12-18 months) experiment with new behaviors to see the outcomes, indicating the beginning of intentional actions.

Action Sequences

A series of actions or steps taken towards achieving a particular end.

Frontal Cortex

is a part of the brain located in the frontal lobe that is responsible for higher cognitive functions such as decision making, problem-solving, and controlling social behavior.