Which statement about divorce rates is supported by the data?

Which statement about divorce rates is supported by the data?

• A. Same-sex divorce occurs at about half the rate of mixed-sex divorce
• B. Same-sex divorce occurs at a higher rate than mixed-sex divorce
• C. Same-sex divorce occurs at the same rate as mixed-sex divorce
• D. Divorce rates for same-sex couples are not studied

Answer: (A)

Understanding how divorce rates compare across groups is about looking at how often marriages dissolve in each group over a given period. The data in this case show that same-sex marriages dissolve at roughly half the rate of mixed-sex marriages. That means, when you compare similar samples and timeframes, the likelihood of a same-sex marriage ending in divorce is about 50% of the likelihood for a mixed-sex marriage. So the statement that same-sex divorce occurs at about half the rate is the best-supported conclusion by these data. The other possibilities aren’t supported by what the data show: the rate isn’t higher for same-sex couples, it isn’t the same as mixed-sex couples, and there has been study of same-sex divorce rates, so saying they’re not studied would be incorrect.

Understanding how divorce rates compare across groups is about looking at how often marriages dissolve in each group over a given period. The data in this case show that same-sex marriages dissolve at roughly half the rate of mixed-sex marriages. That means, when you compare similar samples and timeframes, the likelihood of a same-sex marriage ending in divorce is about 50% of the likelihood for a mixed-sex marriage. So the statement that same-sex divorce occurs at about half the rate is the best-supported conclusion by these data.

The other possibilities aren’t supported by what the data show: the rate isn’t higher for same-sex couples, it isn’t the same as mixed-sex couples, and there has been study of same-sex divorce rates, so saying they’re not studied would be incorrect.