Jason finds a correlation of .85 between monthly homicide rates and monthly ice cream sales. However, he believes that the correlation is caused by monthly changes in temperature. In this case, temperature represents a(n) _____ variable.
A) outcome
B) predictor
C) spurious
D) extraneous

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Temperature is a spurious variable because it is an external factor that influences both variables (homicide rates and ice cream sales) and explains the correlation between them without being directly related to the causal relationship of the primary variables.

Jason Finds a Correlation of