Give an example of a spurious relationship and draw a diagram of the links among variables.

•   Spuriousness occurs when two variables are associated but are not causally related because an unseen third factor is the real cause.
•   For example, the argument that there is a relationship between illegal drugs and criminal activity. Some people maintain that taking illegal drugs causes criminal activity. This argument is spurious because the initial relationship between taking illegal drugs and criminal activity is misleading. The emotional problems and community disorder factors/variables are the true and often unobserved causal variables.
•   INITIAL RELATIONSHIP = ILLEGAL DRUG USE  CRIMINAL ACTIVITY
•   ADDITION OF THE MISSING TRUE CAUSAL FACTOR(S) =
EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS + COMMUNITY DISORDER  ILLEGAL DRUG USE  CRIMINAL ACTIVITY