13.6 Correlation vs. Causation

Correlation vs. Causation

Objective: I can explain the difference between correlation and causation for a given example.

Correlation

Causation

Open Ended

Correlation does NOT imply causation!!

What does this statement mean?

Multiple Choice

Which relationship can best be described as causal?

• height and intelligence

• shoe size and running speed

• number of correct answers on a test and test score

• number of students in a class and number of students with brown hair

Multiple Choice

What type of relationship exists between the number of pages printed on a printer 

    and the amount of ink used by that printer?

• positive correlation, but not causal

• positive correlation, and causal

• negative correlation, but not causal

• negative correlation, and causal

Multiple Choice

Which phrase best describes the relationship between the number of miles driven 

    and the amount of gasoline used?

• causal, but not correlated

•  correlated, but not causal

• both correlated and causal

• neither correlated nor causal

Multiple Choice

 A study showed that a decrease in the cost of carrots led to an increase in the number of carrots sold. Which statement best describes this relationship?

• positive correlation and a causal relationship

• negative correlation and a causal relationship

• positive correlation and not a causal relationship

• negative correlation and not a causal relationship

Categorize

Options (5)

The more items I buy, the less money I have in my bank account.

The more jumping jacks I do, the faster my heart beats.

The more hours I work, the more money I earn.

The taller I am, the faster I can run.

The bigger the house, the more pictures on the wall.

Organize these options into the right categories:

Causal Relationship

NOT Causal Relationship

With your partner, organize the scenarios into TWO categories:

CAUSAL RELATIONSHIP and NOT CAUSAL RELATIONSHIP


Make sure you and your partner agree with your final answers!
Be ready to explain why you chose a category for each scenario!

Multiple Choice

Beverly did a study this past spring using data she collected from a cafeteria. She recorded data weekly for ice cream sales and soda sales. Beverly found the line of best fit and the correlation coefficient, as shown in the diagram below. Given this information, which statement(s) can correctly be concluded? 

          I. Eating more ice cream causes a person to become thirsty. 

         II. Drinking more soda causes a person to become hungry. 

         III. There is a strong correlation between ice cream sales and soda  

 sales.

• I, only

• III, only

• I and III

• II and III