In a study of American cities, Professor Smith finds a strong positive correlation between the number of preschools and the number of bars. What is the most likely explanation of this relationship?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The most likely explanation for the observed correlation between the number of preschools and the number of bars in American cities is due to a third variable, which is population size. Larger cities tend to have more of both preschools and bars, making population size a confounding variable that explains the correlation without implying a direct causal relationship between the two.

In a Study of American Cities, Professor Smith Finds a Strong