Professor Winston is explaining to his class that people who watch more hours of violent television programming also show greater levels of hostility and violence toward others. He continues to say that this means violence on television causes increased hostility and violence. A student in his class remarks that it may be possible that being a violent and hostile person causes them to watch more violent programming. The student has pointed out what issue with correlational designs? (Points : 1)
The third-variable problem
Random error
The directionality problem
Demand characteristics
Yes, you are correct. The issue that the student in the class has pointed out is the third-variable problem. The third-variable problem refers to the possibility that a third variable, a factor other than the variables being studied, could be causing the observed relationship between the two variables. In this case, the third variable could be a person's tendency to be violent and hostile, which could lead them to both watch more violent television programming and exhibit higher levels of hostility and violence. It is important to consider the possibility of third variables and conduct further research to establish causal relationships.
