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When things are correlated it means one thing predicts the other, but it doesn't mean it causes the other. I'll give an example.

Golden anniversaries and hair loss are correlated. Now if you didnt know this phrase you would think long marriages causes hair loss, but its just that if your reach your golden anniversary it means youre probably very old, which accompanies hair loss. Correlated, not caused!

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15y ago

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What does correlation mean in maths?

Correlation is a statistical measure of the linear association between two variables. It is important to remember that correlation does not mean causation and also that the absence of correlation does not mean the two variables are unrelated.


Does a strong positive correlation prove causation?

A strong positive correlation does not prove causation. People only get sunburned during daylight hours. Sundials only work during daylight hours. Therefore sundials cause sunburns. The above sentences show how absurd such predicate thinking could be. Simply because two events usually occur at the same time does not mean they are related. One man found a perfect correlation between the price of whiskey and Chicago school teachers' salaries. No possible relationship could possibly exist except the rate of prosperity and inflation. Causation is difficult to prove.


Are correlation and causation the same thing?

No, correlation and causation are not the same thing. Correlation means that two variables are related in some way, while causation means that one variable directly causes a change in another variable. Just because two variables are correlated does not mean that one causes the other.


What is the distinction between correlation and causation?

Correlation is a relationship between two variables where they change together, but it does not mean that one causes the other. Causation, on the other hand, implies that one variable directly influences the other. In simpler terms, correlation shows a connection, while causation shows a cause-and-effect relationship.


Can you explain the difference between correlation and causation?

Correlation is a relationship between two variables where they change together, but it doesn't mean one causes the other. Causation, on the other hand, implies that one variable directly causes a change in the other.


In what ways does correlation differ from causation?

Correlation is a statistical relationship between two variables, while causation implies that one variable directly influences the other. Just because two variables are correlated does not mean that one causes the other.


What does correlation does not imply causation mean?

It is saying that two occurrences happening in sequence does not have to mean that the first event was the cause of the second event.


What's the difference between correlation and causation?

Correlation is a relationship between two variables where they change together, while causation is when one variable directly causes a change in another variable. Just because two things are correlated does not mean that one causes the other.


Why do historians need to distinguish between causation and correlation?

Correlation by itself is understood not to be sufficient to conclude causation. That two variables change together in a highly correlated way could mean that changes in both variables are being controlled or caused by something altogether different that has not yet come to light or that has not been considered as the cause.


What does correlation does not mean causation mean?

People with bigger feet have higher intelligence, and people with smaller feet have lower intelligence. In other words, foot size is correlated with intelligence. However, it's clear that if I could have made my feet bigger it would not have made me more intelligent. In other words, in increase in foot size is not a cause of greater intelligence. That's what 'correlation does not imply causation' means.


What is the meaning of the word correlation?

Correlation refers to a statistical measure that shows the extent to which two or more variables change together. A positive correlation indicates that the variables move in the same direction, while a negative correlation means they move in opposite directions. Correlation does not imply causation, meaning that just because two variables are correlated does not mean that one causes the other.


What does correlation of data mean?

Correlation of data means that two different variables are linked in some way. This might be positive correlation, which means one goes up as the other goes up (for instance, people who are heavier tend to be taller) or negative correlation, which means one goes up as the other goes down (for instance, people who are older tend to play video games less often). Correlation just means a link. It means that knowing one variable (a person is really tall) is enough to make a guess at the other one (that person is probably also pretty heavy). Note that there is a very common mistake people make about correlation, and this needs to be addressed. In short, the mistake is "correlation implies causation". It doesn't. If I have data which shows people who volunteer more often tend to be happier, I cannot then say "volunteer. It makes you happy!" because correlation doesn't imply causation - it might be that if you're happy you're more likely to volunteer, and the causation is the other way around. Or it might be that if you're rich, you're both more likely to be happy, and more likely to volunteer, so the data is affected by a different variable entirely.