In the coastal United States, there is an established correlation between ice cream sales and shark attacks. Which of the following might we conclude from this data?

a. Eating ice cream may increase the likelihood of a shark attack.

b. Increases in shark attacks may increase ice cream sales.

c. This is an anomaly and there is no relationship between shark attacks and ice cream sales.

d. There may be a third variable that creates a link between ice cream sales and shark attacks.

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Social Studies

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19 May, 21:45

In the coastal United States, there is an established correlation between ice cream sales and shark attacks. Which of the following might we conclude from this data?

a. Eating ice cream may increase the likelihood of a shark attack.

b. Increases in shark attacks may increase ice cream sales.

c. This is an anomaly and there is no relationship between shark attacks and ice cream sales.

d. There may be a third variable that creates a link between ice cream sales and shark attacks.

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Answers (1)

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Edward Stanley · Answer 1

d. There may be a third variable that creates a link between ice cream sales and shark attacks.

Explanation:

There may be a third variable that link between ice cream sale and shark attacks.

A common error in casual thinking is the overlooking of third variable relating to the other two variables involve that better explains cause effect relationships. Third variable leads to a mistaken causal relationship between two others.

d. There may be a third variable that creates a link between ice cream sales and shark attacks.