Data from a research study shows that there is a strong, positive linear correlation between the consumption of ice cream and the outside temperature.

Question

Which of the following statements is true?
Responses

This experiment was a controlled study, so causation can be established.
This experiment was a controlled study, so causation can be established.

The strong, positive linear correlation implies that a warm outside temperature causes more ice cream consumption.
The strong, positive linear correlation implies that a warm outside temperature causes more ice cream consumption.

There is a strong correlation but it cannot be concluded that warm outside temperature causes more ice cream consumption.
There is a strong correlation but it cannot be concluded that warm outside temperature causes more ice cream consumption.

The strong correlation in this context means that there is a clear relationship between the variables in the study, so causation can be established.

Answer 1

The correct statement is:

There is a strong correlation but it cannot be concluded that warm outside temperature causes more ice cream consumption.

While there may be a strong positive linear correlation between ice cream consumption and outside temperature, correlation does not imply causation. Other factors could also contribute to this relationship, and without a controlled experimental study specifically designed to test causation, we cannot definitively say that warm temperatures cause increased ice cream consumption.