Questions: Stephanie knows that a correlation between the number of bars and the number of churches in her city does not, in itself, mean that more bars will lead to a higher number of churches. Which of the following would NOT be a lurking variable in the above scenario? a.) The number of letters in the street name b.) City demographics c.) Stephanie's proximity to the center of the city d) Population density

Solution Steps

A lurking variable is a variable that is not explicitly included in the analysis but may influence the relationship between the variables being studied. In this case, the relationship is between the number of bars and the number of churches in Stephanie's city.

• a.) The number of letters in the street name: This is unlikely to have any meaningful influence on the number of bars or churches in the city. It is a trivial factor and does not relate to the context of the scenario.
• b.) City demographics: Demographics, such as age, income, or cultural background, could influence both the number of bars and churches. For example, a younger population might lead to more bars, while a religious population might lead to more churches.
• c.) Stephanie's proximity to the center of the city: Proximity to the city center could affect the number of bars and churches, as city centers often have higher concentrations of both.
• d.) Population density: Higher population density could lead to more bars and churches due to increased demand for services and community spaces.

Based on the analysis, a.) The number of letters in the street name is the only option that does not qualify as a lurking variable because it has no logical connection to the number of bars or churches in the city.

Final Answer