Question 6 of 10 People who drink coffee are more likely to develop cancer. For this statement, which could be a hidden variable? Check all that apply. A. The amount of coffee consumed B. Cars driven by people who drink coffee C. Age D. Which people were selected for the sample

hidden variable, also known as a confounding variable, is an extraneous variable in a statistical model that correlates with both the dependent variable and the independent variable. In this case, we are looking for variables that could influence both coffee consumption and cancer development.<br /><br />Let's analyze each option:<br /><br />A. The amount of coffee consumed<br />- This is not a hidden variable; it is directly related to the statement about coffee consumption and cancer risk.<br /><br />B. Cars driven by people who drink coffee<br />- This is unlikely to be related to either coffee consumption or cancer development and does not serve as a plausible hidden variable.<br /><br />C. Age<br />- Age could be a hidden variable because it can influence both the likelihood of drinking coffee (as habits may change with age) and the risk of developing cancer (since cancer risk generally increases with age).<br /><br />D. Which people were selected for the sample<br />- This could be a hidden variable if the selection process introduces bias. For example, if the sample disproportionately includes older individuals, it might skew the results since older people are more likely to develop cancer regardless of coffee consumption.<br /><br />Therefore, the correct answers are:<br />C. Age<br />D. Which people were selected for the sample