1.2 Who is at risk of cardiovascular disease?

Question 1

Risk

Answer 1

The probability of occurrence of some unwanted event or outcome

Question 2

People will overestimate risk if:

Answer 2

The risk is

• Involuntary
• not natural
• unfamiliar
• dreaded
• unfair
• very small

Question 3

Factors that contribute to health risks

Answer 3

• Age
• heredity
• physical environment
• social environment
• lifestyle and behaviour choices

Question 4

Correlation

Answer 4

Two variables are said to show a correlation (to be correlated) if there is either a positive or a negative relationship between them.

Question 5

Causation

Answer 5

Causation means that a change in one variable results in a change inanother variable. For example, during childhood there is a causal link between age and such variables as height, physical strength and vocabulary acquisition.

Question 6

Null hypothesis

Answer 6

A useful starting point used when looking at the results of a scientific investigation. A null hypothesis assumes that there are no differences between sets of observations. A statistical test can then be used. From the results of such a test the null hypothesis can be accepted or rejected. If it is rejected, then the results are likely to be biologically significant and unlikely to be due to chance.