Many early studies on the relationship between smoking and lung cancer in the 19

Question

Many early studies on the relationship between smoking and lung cancer in the 1950s found that smokers were about 13 times more likely to die from lung cancer than non-smokers. Still, people argued against a cause and effect conclusion, citing numerous possible confounding variables. Suppose a student argues that these studies are not convincing evidence because the researchers did not record the diet of the individuals. What more does the student need to say to provide a complete explanation of why diet is a potentially confounding variable?

Explanation / Answer

A confounding variable is a variable which has an hidden effect on the outcome of a study. Now, diet does not have any hidden effect on smoking and lung cancer. Thus, diet is not a potentialy confounding variable.

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