Author Question: What is a spurious relationship and what implications does the possibility of a spurious ... (Read 94 times)

jho37 · **on:** Jul 12, 2018

What is a spurious relationship and what implications does the possibility of a spurious relationship have for the strategy of research?

What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

If two variables are correlated with one another, does this mean that one of them is having some kind of effect on the other? Explain your answer.

What will be an ideal response?

Sarahjh · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 12, 2018

Answer to Question 1

Answer: A spurious relationship is an apparent causal relationship between two variables that is actually due to the effects of a third variable on both of them. We can never be absolutely sure that a relationship between two variables is not spurious. Thus, we cannot, strictly speaking, ever prove beyond any possible doubt that one variable causes another. As a result, the strategy of scientific research is based on disproof rather than proof.

Answer to Question 2

Answer: If two variables are related to one another, this does not mean that one of them is affecting the other. While one variable might be affecting the other, it is also possible that the relationship is simply a coincidence. It is also possible that the relationship is spurious.