Final answer:
B. The temperature outside changing.The number of swimsuits purchased is most likely affected by a change in the temperature outside, as warmer weather typically increases the desire for water-related activities and thus swimsuit purchases.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer is option B. The temperature outside changing. When trying to understand correlations and causations, it's important to consider which variables are most likely to directly affect the outcome. In this case, the purchase of swimsuits likely correlates with a change in temperature outside.
As temperatures rise, people are more inclined to engage in water-related activities, hence the need for more swimsuits.
This type of seasonal change directly impacts consumer behavior. Other variables mentioned, such as the store's inventory of cover-ups or the time employees take to commute, may have a correlation but are less likely to be causal factors.
The number of sand castles built by store customers is likely an irrelevant correlation and does not affect swimsuit purchases.
In studies of causation, it's essential to look for third variables, like the weather, which could explain increases in correlated behaviors, much like warmer weather increasing both ice cream sales and crime rates, rather than one causing the other.
The correct answer is option B. The temperature outside changing most likely causes a change in the number of swimsuits purchased. This is because people are more likely to buy swimsuits when the weather is warm and they want to go swimming. When the temperature is cold, people are less likely to buy swimsuits.