Correlation Does Not Imply Causation

Definition

Correlation does not imply causation means that just because two variables are correlated does not necessarily mean that one variable causes changes in another variable.

Analogy

It's like saying that because people who eat ice cream tend to wear sunglasses, ice cream consumption causes people to wear sunglasses. In reality, both variables are influenced by a third variable (e.g., sunny weather).

Related terms

Confounding Variable: A confounding variable is an extraneous factor that is associated with both the independent and dependent variables, making it difficult to determine the true cause-effect relationship.

Spurious Correlation: A spurious correlation occurs when two variables appear to be related but are actually not causally connected; their correlation is coincidental or due to a common underlying factor.

Reverse Causality: Reverse causality refers to a situation where the presumed cause and effect are reversed; instead of A causing B, it's actually B causing A.