In a study of divorce rates in different U.S.states,Frankie observed strong correlations between crime rates and divorce rates (e.g. ,divorce rates are higher in states with higher crime rates).Based on these results,Frankie concluded that crime causes divorce.Which of the following represents a potential environmental confound in Frankie's study?
A)people who watch a lot of aggressive television are more likely to commit crimes
B)people who are more aggressive are more likely to commit crimes
C)the average temperature varies greatly from state to state
D)the proportion of urban residents varies greatly from state to state

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The proportion of urban residents varying greatly from state to state is a potential environmental confound because urban areas tend to have higher crime rates and higher divorce rates compared to rural areas. Therefore, the correlation observed between crime rates and divorce rates may be due to the fact that both are higher in urban areas rather than crime causing divorce. A possible spurious relationship could exist between the two variables.

In a Study of Divorce Rates in Different U