Correlation vs Causation

Front

What is the difference between correlation and causation?

Back

Correlation indicates a relationship between two variables, while causation implies that one variable directly affects the other.

Tags

CCSS.RI.8.7

CCSS.RI.9-10.7

CCSS.RL.11-12.7

CCSS.RL.8.7

CCSS.RL.9-10.7

Front

Define correlation.

Back

Correlation is a statistical measure that describes the extent to which two variables change together.

Tags

CCSS.HSS.ID.C.9

Front

Define causation.

Back

Causation is the action of causing something; it indicates that one event is the result of the occurrence of another event.

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.3

CCSS.RI.5.3

CCSS.RI.6.3

CCSS.RI.7.3

CCSS.RI.8.3

Front

What does it mean if two variables are correlated?

Back

It means that there is a relationship between the two variables, but it does not imply that one causes the other.

Tags

CCSS.HSS.ID.C.9

Front

Give an example of causation.

Back

If it rains, the ground gets wet.

Tags

CCSS.L.7.6

CCSS.L.8.6

CCSS.L.9-10.6

CCSS.W.8.2D

CCSS.W.9-10.2D

Front

Give an example of correlation that is not causation.

Back

Ice cream sales and drowning incidents increase during summer; they are correlated but one does not cause the other.

Tags

CCSS.HSS.ID.C.9

Front

What is a common misconception about correlation?

Back

Many people mistakenly believe that correlation implies causation.

Tags

CCSS.HSS.ID.C.9

Front

What is a spurious correlation?

Back

A spurious correlation is a relationship between two variables that appears to be causal but is actually caused by a third variable.

Tags

CCSS.HSS.ID.C.9

Front

How can you determine if a relationship is causal?

Back

To determine causation, controlled experiments or longitudinal studies are often required.

Front

What is an example of a spurious correlation?

Back

The increase in the number of people who drown by falling into a pool correlates with the number of films Nicolas Cage appears in.

Tags

CCSS.HSS.ID.C.9