Uncovering Hidden Variables: A Physics Classroom Activity on Correlation and Causation
Physics Education
2025-02-04 v3
Abstract
A classroom activity for high school physics students is presented to explore the distinction between correlation and causation. Using data linking ice cream sales to drowning deaths, presented within a fictional news article, students analyze the relationship, create plots, and identify temperature as the hidden variable explaining the correlation. The activity fosters critical thinking by engaging students in scientific reasoning, illustrating how data representation influences conclusions, and supporting the development of scientific literacy and data interpretation skills.
Cite
@article{arxiv.2412.04150,
title = {Uncovering Hidden Variables: A Physics Classroom Activity on Correlation and Causation},
author = {Alvaro Suarez and Marcelo Vachetta},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2412.04150},
year = {2025}
}
Comments
Paper accepted in The Physics Teacher