Question

question
a researcher found that there is a strong positive relationship between ice cream sales and shark attacks close to the ocean shoreline. some are worried that eating ice cream causes sharks to attack! which of the below could be a confounding variable in this scenario?

select the correct answer below:

○ dietary changes of sharks.

○ weather that is sunny and warm.

○ increased migration of sharks to populated shorelines.

○ flavors of the day of ice cream.

Explanation:

A confounding variable correlates with both the independent (ice cream sales) and dependent (shark attacks) variables, creating a false causal link. Sunny, warm weather leads more people to buy ice cream and also leads more people to swim in the ocean, increasing shark attack risk. The other options only relate to one of the two variables or neither.

Answer:

Weather that is sunny and warm.