A student football team manager examined variables influencing the team's record and concluded that the best scores resulted when the "third-string" team played the most minutes. Therefore he recommended that the third-string team become the first team. Why is this conclusion probably erroneous?
A) He failed to recognize that correlation is not causation.
B) He did not review the entire game strategy carefully enough.
C) He committed the fallacy of composition.
D) He confused positive and normative analysis.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The fact that the team's best scores resulted when the third-string team played the most minutes does not necessarily mean that the third-string team is the reason for the success. Other variables, such as the opponents' strength or the starting lineup, may have affected the outcomes as well. Therefore, the conclusion based solely on correlation is probably erroneous.

A Student Football Team Manager Examined Variables Influencing the Team's