2007-09-26 04:59:22 · 4 answers · asked by need help 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Other - Politics & Government
This is the SINGLE GREATEST statistical fallacy. Correlation has absolutely NOTHING to due with causation. Consider this example:
Reading ability is highly correlated with height. As height goes up, so does reading ability. Therefore, "growing taller increases reading ability."
Clearly the fallacy is that growing taller is an indication of advancing age which is the TRUER causal variable (although still not 100%) of the increase in reading ability.
2007-09-26 05:04:53 · answer #1 · answered by jurydoc 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Two things can be correlated and not causallly connected.
2007-09-26 05:08:12 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely not, correlation is implication and implication is never absolutely correct. Basic logic you learn in high school should teach you this.
2007-09-26 05:12:20 · answer #3 · answered by Pfo 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
sure.
it's called a syllogism.
here's a perfect example:
god is love
love is blind
therefore
ray charles is love
2007-09-26 05:08:44 · answer #4 · answered by nostradamus02012 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋