Final answer:
Sean's hypothesis that cold climates reduce exercise compared to warm climates is tested using the average yearly temperature as an operational definition of climate. Climate's influence on sports participation and other significant aspects like agriculture and environmental challenges highlights the relevance of his study.
Step-by-step explanation:
Sean is investigating his hypothesis that people who live in cold climates exercise less than those in warm climates due to the deterrent effect of cold weather on outdoor exercise habits. To test this hypothesis, he uses the average yearly temperature as an operational definition of climate. Climate impacts sports participation geographically, with sports like Ice Hockey being more popular in colder regions and golf, baseball, and water sports flourishing where warmer weather allows for year-round play. It is noteworthy that climate, as a long-term average of weather patterns, influences not only sports but also significant aspects such as farming productivity and environmental challenges including glacial melting and sea level rise.
As sports participation can reflect these long-term weather patterns, Sean's study could reveal how climate influences exercise habits, contributing to a broader understanding of human behavior in relation to environmental conditions.