Which phrase best describes the statement regarding children's television viewing habits and their BMI?

The phrase that best describes the statement regarding children's television viewing habits and their BMI is a directional research hypothesis. This type of hypothesis predicts the specific direction of the relationship between two variables, in this case, television viewing habits and body mass index (BMI). It suggests that an increase in television viewing may lead to an increase or decrease in BMI, thereby implying a specific trend or outcome based on prior evidence or theory.

In the context of research, a directional hypothesis goes beyond merely stating that there is a relationship; it indicates the nature of that relationship. In this scenario, if the statement implies that higher television viewing is associated with a higher BMI, it clearly points towards an expected outcome, which is characteristic of a directional hypothesis.

Descriptive hypotheses, in contrast, simply describe a phenomenon without predicting relationships or directions. A null hypothesis posits that there is no significant relationship between the variables, and exploratory analysis refers to an approach that aims to discover patterns without necessarily having a specific hypothesis in mind. Thus, the choice indicating a directional research hypothesis is the most appropriate for conveying the expected relationship between children's television viewing habits and BMI.