Question

a study finds that as ice cream sales increase, the number of drowning incidents also increases. what is the most likely explanation for this relationship? there is no relationship at all between the two ice cream sales cause more people to drown. there is a correlation, but not causation; both increase because people swim more in hot weather. drowning incidents cause people to buy more ice cream.

Explanation:

This is a classic example of correlation vs. causation. The two variables (ice cream sales and drowning incidents) are correlated, but neither directly causes the other. Hot weather is the confounding variable: it leads people to buy more ice cream and also leads more people to swim, which increases the risk of drowning incidents.

Answer:

There is a correlation, but not causation; both increase because people swim more in hot weather.