Asked by Josiah Roberts on Jun 08, 2024
Verified
Explain why "a correlation does not prove causation".
Correlation
A measure of the relationship between two variables, indicating how one may predict or be associated with the other.
Causation
The action of causing something, indicating a relationship where one factor or event makes another happen.
- Understand the distinction between correlation and causation, along with the constraints of correlational studies.
Verified Answer
ST
Sherwanda TrammellJun 14, 2024
Final Answer :
A correlation suggests that two variables may be related and allows researchers to address the goal of prediction. However, the correlation does not tell us whether a cause-effect relationship exists because correlation does not address the third variable problem, in other words it does not tell HOW the variables are related. X may cause Y; Y may cause X, or Z may cause X and Y.
Learning Objectives
- Understand the distinction between correlation and causation, along with the constraints of correlational studies.