Question

the linear correlation between violent crime rate and percentage of the population that has a cell phone is - 0.918 for years since 1995. do you believe that increasing the percentage of the population that has a cell phone will decrease the violent crime rate? what might be a lurking variable between percentage of the population with a cell phone and violent crime rate? will increasing the percentage of the population that has a cell phone decrease the violent crime rate? choose the best option below. yes no what might be a lurking variable between percentage of the population with a cell phone and violent crime rate? a. the average cell phones effectiveness as a weapon b. the economy c. overall cell phone signal strength d. the police

Explanation:

Correlation does not imply causation. Just because there is a negative linear correlation (-0.918) between the percentage of the population with a cell phone and the violent crime rate does not mean that one directly causes the other. A lurking variable is a variable that is not included as an explanatory or response variable in the analysis but can affect the relationship between the variables. The economy (option B) could be a lurking variable. When the economy is good, more people may be able to afford cell phones (increasing the percentage of the population with cell phones) and at the same time, with better economic conditions, there may be less violent crime (as people have more opportunities, less financial stress that could lead to crime etc.). Options A (cell phone as a weapon - not a likely major factor affecting overall violent crime rate), C (cell - phone signal strength - no logical connection to violent crime rate), and D (the police - while police presence can affect crime rate, there is no direct logical connection shown here to the percentage of population with cell phones in the context of the problem) are less likely lurking variables compared to the economy.

Answer:

No. B. the economy