Try it on paper first. A hint, the key idea and the worked solution are here when you need them.
A made-up primary school tests eight children: four aged and four aged . For the younger children, shoe sizes , , and go with reading scores , , and . For the older children, sizes , , and go with scores , , and . Find inside each age group and for all eight children, to three decimal places. What do you conclude?
A lurking (confounding) variable affects both variables and can create a correlation. A correlation can also come from reverse cause, mixed groups, time or chance. Only a randomised experiment balances lurking variables that nobody knows about.
Have you tried it?
Work it out on paper first. It is fine to get stuck or make a mistake: that is how we learn. When you are ready, go through the solution one step at a time, and check each step against your own.
Step 1. Younger. , almost no pattern.
Step 2. Older. , almost no pattern.
Step 3. All eight. , a strong pattern.
Answer: , and .
What it means. Inside an age group, shoe size tells you almost nothing about reading. The strong overall comes from mixing two ages: the older children have both larger feet and higher scores. Age is the lurking variable.
Log in to join the discussion.
Loading…