Apply the concept of the third-variable problem to a new non-experimental study that measures students' daily social media use and their level of loneliness. Identify one plausible unmeasured third variable and briefly explain how it could explain the correlation between the two measured variables.
Question: Apply the concept of the third-variable problem to a new non-experimental study that measures students' daily social media use and their level of loneliness. Identify one plausible unmeasured third variable and briefly explain how it could explain the correlation between the two measured variables.
Sample answer: A plausible third variable is the level of face-to-face social support. Students with low face-to-face social support may spend more time on social media to cope and simultaneously feel lonelier, which explains the correlation between social media use and loneliness without either directly causing the other.
Key points:
- Identify a plausible unmeasured third variable.
- Explain how the third variable could lead to higher social media use.
- Explain how the third variable could lead to higher loneliness.
Rubric: The answer should identify a plausible unmeasured third variable (e.g., face-to-face social support, personality traits, or family dynamic) and explain how that third variable could cause or relate to both social media use and loneliness, creating a spurious correlation.
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Research Methods in Psychology - 4th American Edition @ KPU
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