Chapter 6.1, Problem 6.17E

To determine

To explain clearly that why such a study cannot establish a cause and effect relationship and suggest some lurking example that may be confounded with whether families eat dinner together.

Explanation of Solution

We cannot say that eating dinner with their families more often improves academic performance because there are unidentified lurking variables that may be contributing to this result. An example of a lurking variable in this context may be that students who eat more dinner with their families may talk about schoolwork more often with their families, resulting in better academic performance.