Question

Which of the situations below probably does not have a lurking variable operating in some way?Choose the best answer. A. When sales of cold medication go up, sales of ice cream go down. B. Beaches with more sand than rocks tend to be older. O C. Small dogs bite more people than large dogs nationwide, but in both rural areas and urban areas, large dogs are more likely to bite people. D, Neighborhoods with more station wagons tend to have more playgrounds. E Towns that have more teachers have higher sales of floor wax and cat litter.

Answer 1

The situation that probably does not have a lurking variable operating in some way is option D: Neighborhoods with more station wagons tend to have more playgrounds.

Step-by-step explanation:

The situation that probably does not have a lurking variable operating in some way is option D: Neighborhoods with more station wagons tend to have more playgrounds.

Step-by-step explanation:

In options A, B, C, and E, there are correlations between variables that suggest the presence of a lurking variable. For example, in option A, the increase in sales of cold medication is correlated with a decrease in sales of ice cream. The lurking variable in this case could be the change in weather, with cold weather causing more people to buy cold medication and fewer people to buy ice cream.

However, option D does not show a clear correlation between variables. The presence of more station wagons in a neighborhood does not necessarily indicate the presence of more playgrounds. There is no clear link between these two variables, so there is likely no lurking variable operating in this situation.

Answer 2

The situation that probably does not have a lurking variable operating in some way is A. when sales of cold medication go up, sales of ice cream go down.

Step-by-step explanation:

A lurking variable, also known as a confounding variable, is an unseen factor that influences both the independent and dependent variables in a study. It can create a false association between variables, leading to inaccurate conclusions. Identifying and addressing lurking variables is crucial for valid research and analysis.

In the given question, the situation that probably does not have a lurking variable operating in some way is option A. When sales of cold medication go up, sales of ice cream go down. This is because the increase in sales of cold medication can be attributed to the rise in cold and flu cases, which may cause people to consume less ice cream due to illness.