More Practice: Spuriousness
During lecture we discussed spuriousness. Here are more examples. Take some time to think through them...they would make excellent test questions (hint, hint)
Based on the criteria we discussed, are the following examples cases of correlation or causation? If correlation, can you identify spurious influences?
Higher beer prices 'cut gonorrhoea rates' http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/729298.stm
Video games 'increase aggression' http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/720707.stm
Or, ponder this: Dr. John Harvey Kellogg (co-inventor of the breakfast cereal Corn Flakes in the late 1800s) warned against the dangers of self-abuse including smoking, drinking, non-procreative sex, and (*gasp*) masturbation! In fact, he reasoned that masturbation caused acne. (Some sound reasoning, eh?) Might this be a spurious relationship? Can you think of another variable that might explain the apparent relationship between pimples and self-gratification?
Based on the criteria we discussed, are the following examples cases of correlation or causation? If correlation, can you identify spurious influences?
Higher beer prices 'cut gonorrhoea rates' http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/729298.stm
Video games 'increase aggression' http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/720707.stm
Or, ponder this: Dr. John Harvey Kellogg (co-inventor of the breakfast cereal Corn Flakes in the late 1800s) warned against the dangers of self-abuse including smoking, drinking, non-procreative sex, and (*gasp*) masturbation! In fact, he reasoned that masturbation caused acne. (Some sound reasoning, eh?) Might this be a spurious relationship? Can you think of another variable that might explain the apparent relationship between pimples and self-gratification?
posted by Sociological Methods at 2:21 PM
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