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A study found a strong positive correlation between ice cream consumption and the number of violent crimes committed each month. Some people may take this as an indication of how refined sugars make people violent.

This is an example of:

A. extrapolation
B. misuse of cause and effect
C. influential outlier
D. volunteer sample

1 Answer

6 votes

Answer: This is an example of the misuse of CAUSE AND EFFECT

Explanation: A popular quote often used in statistics is "correlation does not imply causation". What this simply means is that, if situations are related by correlation, that doesn't mean that it is the cause.

This is the illustration of cause and effect, an event leading to the occurrence of another.

In the question, the Research found the correlation between ice cream consumption and the number of violent crimes. Then proceeded to conclude that it is caused by refined sugar. Firstly, refined sugar is not the only ingredient in ice cream. There's a whole lot more. This in essence explains that cause and effect is being misused.

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