A recent study reports that the more sexual content that adolescents watch on TV, the more likely they were to engage in sexual behaviors. However, it is unclear whether the sexual content on TV leads to sexual behavior or whether sexual behavior leads to a preference for sexual content on TV. This is an example of the third-variable problem.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This is an example of the directionality problem, not the third-variable problem. The directionality problem occurs when it is unclear which variable is the cause and which is the effect.

A Recent Study Reports That the More Sexual Content That