Question

Cases of spurious correlations are typically explained in terms of _______ variables that are _______ two correlated variables.a. independent; distinct fromb. confounding; independent ofc. independent; unaffected byd. confounding; affecting

Answer 1

Answer: d. confounding; affecting

Explanation:

A spurious correlation refers to a relationship between two variables that seems causal but is not, and is usually created by a  confounding factor, meaning a third variable that hasn´t been considered in the research.

For example, noting that drownings rise when ice cream sales grow, might lead us to believe that the increment on ice cream sales may cause more drowning. However, there´s a third factor to be considered: the rising heat makes people want to swim more, rising the possibility of drawing, as well as buy more ice cream.