Asked by Isabella Santana on Jun 18, 2024

verifed

Verified

A researcher finds that the number of murders committed during a summer is correlated with the number of ice cream cones consumed.However,the researcher realizes that there is a third variable problem related to this finding.What might this problem be?

A) It's possible that people eat more ice cream to console themselves about news that murder is being committed,rather than murder being committed as a result of ice cream sales.
B) High temperatures might be causing both greater ice cream sales and more aggressive acts of violence.
C) Victims of murder cannot be randomly assigned to a condition.
D) The number of murders committed in an area might not only be causing more ice cream sales but also more toy sales.

Third Variable Problem

An issue in research where an unaccounted-for variable may be influencing the relationship between two variables, confounding the results.

Ice Cream Cones

Edible cones made of pastry, typically filled with ice cream.

Murders

The unlawful premeditated killing of one human being by another.

  • Digest the hurdles and limitations faced when pinpointing causality in research outcomes.
verifed

Verified Answer

SB
Sarrah BishopJun 25, 2024
Final Answer :
B
Explanation :
In this scenario, there is a third variable problem with temperature being the confounding variable. High temperatures might be causing both greater ice cream sales and more aggressive acts of violence, so it's not a causal relationship between ice cream consumption and murders.