Correlation and Causation

Correlation means there's a relationship or pattern between two variables. For example, if studies show that students who eat breakfast tend to have higher grades, there is a correlation between eating breakfast and getting higher grades.

Sometimes correlation can be explained by one variable causing the other, but sometimes it can be explained by both variables being affected by something else.

For example, it is possible that eating breakfast causes better grades, but it could be that students who eat breakfast also have other healthy habits or supportive home environments that contribute to their academic success.

As another example, organic food consumption and autism diagnoses have both increased over the last 30 years. There is a correlation between these two variables. However, it would be a mistake to assume from this data that organic foods cause autism.

Assuming that correlation entails causation is a common mistake in data analysis. It's important to look for additional evidence and consider other factors that might influence the results.

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