Each of these relationships reflects a correlation. Which relationship most likely reflects correlation but not causation?Choices:(A) Hosting more dinner parties is associated with vacuuming more often. (B) Cleaning windows more often is associated with vacuuming more often. (C) Having more dogs is associated with vacuuming more often.
Q. Each of these relationships reflects a correlation. Which relationship most likely reflects correlation but not causation?Choices:(A) Hosting more dinner parties is associated with vacuuming more often. (B) Cleaning windows more often is associated with vacuuming more often. (C) Having more dogs is associated with vacuuming more often.
Analyze Relationship: Analyze the relationship of option (A): Does hosting more dinner parties cause one to vacuum more often? While there may be a correlation between hosting dinner parties and vacuuming due to the desire to clean the house for guests, it is not necessarily true that the act of hosting causes more vacuuming in a direct causal relationship. There could be other factors at play, such as personal cleanliness standards or the presence of guests who might make a mess.
Analyze Relationship: Analyze the relationship of option (B): Does cleaning windows more often cause one to vacuum more often? These two cleaning activities are correlated because they may both be part of a regular cleaning routine, but one does not cause the other. A person might do both because they like to keep their house clean, but cleaning windows does not cause the need to vacuum.
Analyze Relationship: Analyze the relationship of option (C): Does having more dogs cause one to vacuum more often? This option suggests a causal relationship because dogs shed fur and bring in dirt, which would necessitate more frequent vacuuming to maintain cleanliness. Therefore, this relationship is likely to reflect both correlation and causation.
Select Option: Select the option that most likely reflects correlation but not causation. Based on the analysis, options (A) and (B) both reflect situations where activities are correlated but do not have a clear causal relationship. However, option (C) suggests a causal relationship. Therefore, we must choose between (A) and (B).
Determine Final Answer: Determine the final answer by considering which of the two remaining options (A or B) is less likely to have a causal relationship. Since cleaning windows and vacuuming are both cleaning activities but are not directly related to each other, option (B) is the one that most likely reflects correlation but not causation.