A study finds that during blizzards online sales are highly

A study finds that during blizzards, online sales are highly associated with the number of snow plows on the road; the more plows, the more online purchases. The director of an association of online merchants suggests that the organization should encourage municipalities to send out more plows whenever it snows because, he says, that will increase business. Comment on the directors conclusion from the answer below:

A. The director is wrong. The lurking variable here is the severity of the blizzard. A more severe blizzard calls for more plows and keeps people at home, where they are more likely to make online purchases.

B. The director is wrong. If more plows are sent out whenever it snows, the roads will be beter and people will leave their home to make purchases as opposed to staying home and increasing online sales.

C. The director is correct. More plows keep people at home, where they are more likely to make online purchases.

D. The director is wrong. The lurking variable here is teh temperature. A lower temperature leads to a more severe blissard, which calls for more plows and keeps people at hom, where they are more likely to make online purchases.

Solution

Answer: D

That is, the doctor is wrong. The lurking variable here is the severity of the blizzard. A more severe blizzard calls for more plows and keeps people at home, where they are more likely to make online purchases.