For the media example of a spurious correlation:

1) Explain the example and the claim that has been made.

2) Identify the predictor variable and the outcome variable.

3) Identify the correlation. Is it a positive or negative correlation? How did you determine this to be the case?

4)

What is your proposed spurious (third) variable?

5) How does your proposed spurious variable simultaneously explain both your outcome variable and predictor variable?

For the media example of an extraneous variable:

1) Explain the example and the claim that has been made.

2) Identify the predictor variable and the outcome variable.

3) Identify the correlation. Is it a positive or negative correlation? How did you determine this to be the case?

4) What is your proposed extraneous variable?

5) How does your proposed extraneous variable explain your outcome variable and not the predictor variable?