Question

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

Answers

GPT-4o mini
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.

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