Question

a study showed a correlation between the number of umbrellas sold at a local store and the number of days of inside recess at the nearest school.
which lurking variable would explain the correlation between the number of umbrellas sold and the number of days of inside recess?

a. the size of the gym at the school

b. the amount of rainfall in the town

c. the price of umbrellas at the store

d. the number of people wearing rain jackets

e. the distance between the school and the store

Explanation:

A lurking variable is a variable that is not included in the analysis but affects the relationship between the two variables being studied. Here, we need to find a variable that affects both the number of umbrellas sold and the number of days of inside recess.

• Option A: The size of the gym at the school has no relation to umbrella sales or the need for inside recess due to weather, so it is not a lurking variable here.
• Option B: The amount of rainfall in the town. When there is more rainfall, people are more likely to buy umbrellas (increasing umbrella sales), and schools are more likely to have inside recess (since it's raining). So rainfall affects both variables, making it a lurking variable that explains the correlation.
• Option C: The price of umbrellas at the store would affect umbrella sales but not the decision to have inside recess at school, so it's not a lurking variable for this correlation.
• Option D: The number of people wearing rain jackets is a result of rainfall (like umbrella sales), not a variable that causes both umbrella sales and inside recess. It's more of a dependent variable related to rainfall.
• Option E: The distance between the school and the store has no impact on either umbrella sales or inside recess decisions, so it's not a lurking variable.

Answer:

B. the amount of rainfall in the town