37. Even though two variables seem to be related, there may not be a causal relationship.
(A) Does this mean that the size of one’s feet (independent variable) causes an improvement in reading skills (dependent variable)? Certainly not. This false relationship is caused by a third factor, age, that is related to shoe size as well as reading ability.
(B) Hence, when researchers attempt to make causal claims about the relationship between an independent and a dependent variable, they must control for―or rule out― other variables that may be creating a spurious relationship.
(C) In fact, the two variables may merely seem to be associated with each other due to the effect of some third variable. Sociologists call such misleading relationships spurious. A classic example is the apparent association between children’s shoe size and reading ability. It seems that as shoe size increases, reading ability improves.
*variable: 변인 **spurious: 허위의, 가짜의
① (A)-(C)-(B)
② (B)-(A)-(C)
③ (B)-(C)-(A)
④ (C)-(A)-(B)
⑤ (C)-(B)-(A)
Even though two variables seem to be related, there may not be a causal relationship. In fact, the two variables may merely seem to be associated with each other due to the effect of some third variable. Sociologists call such misleading relationships spurious. A classic example is the apparent association between children’s shoe size and reading ability. It seems that as shoe size increases, reading ability improves. Does this mean that the size of one’s feet (independent variable) causes an improvement in reading skills (dependent variable)? Certainly not. This false relationship is caused by a third factor, age, that is related to shoe size as well as reading ability. Hence, when researchers attempt to make causal claims about the relationship between an independent and a dependent variable, they must control for―or rule out― other variables that may be creating a spurious relationship.
두 변수가 관련되어 있는 것처럼 보이지만 인과 관계가 없을 수 있습니다. 실제로 두 변수는 일부 세 번째 변수의 영향으로 인해 서로 연관되어 있는 것처럼 보일 수 있습니다. 사회학자들은 그러한 오해의 소지가 있는 관계를 가짜라고 부릅니다. 고전적인 예는 아이들의 신발 크기와 읽기 능력 사이의 명백한 연관성입니다. 신발 크기가 커질수록 읽기 능력이 향상되는 것 같습니다. 이것은 자신의 발 크기(독립 변수)가 읽기 능력 향상(의존 변수)을 일으킨다는 것을 의미합니까? 당치 않아요. 이러한 잘못된 관계는 읽기 능력뿐만 아니라 신발 크기와 관련된 세 번째 요인인 나이에 의해 발생합니다. 따라서, 연구자들이 독립 변수와 종속 변수 사이의 관계에 대한 인과 관계를 주장하려고 할 때, 그들은 거짓 관계를 만들 수 있는 다른 변수들을 통제하거나 배제해야 합니다.