A study was conducted that showed strong positive correlation between eating strawberries and the number of freckles on a person
's face. Can we say that eating strawberries causes freckles? Explain. Hint: Think about what causes freckles to be more visible. Name a lurking variable for this situation.
No we cannot say that eating strawberries causes freckles. The question says that the study showed a strong positive correlation. The answer is no because a positive correlation does not mean that there is a causation. When two things are said to correlate, it does not mean that one causes the other, correlation between two things could be as a result of another third variable that affects the both of them. <u>The lurking variable here is going to be sunlight. </u>this is because sunlight exposure affects both variables by causing increases in the growth of strawberries and freckles.
