Question

A researcher obtained the average SAT scores of all students in each of the 50 states, and the average teacher salaries in each of the 50 states. She found a negative correlation between these variables. The researcher concluded that a lurking variable must be present. By lurking variable she means_______________.

Answer 1

Answer: By lurking variable she means a variable that is not among the variables studied but which affects the response variable.

Explanation:

The existence of a negative correlation between variables in a research work suggests that a lurking variable is present in the data, which happens to be the case with the work of this researcher.