Correlation vs. Causation Fallacy

This is a fallacy where we conclude that there is a causal connection between the two events, when really it is based on correlation.

Correlation: a statistical measure of how strong two (or more) things are related.

Causation Causation/Causal Relation is when one variable directly influences another variable.

If Some one doesn’t get this

Give an outrageous example.

The number of students who get engineering degrees increase as the number of Lazeez restaurants open. Therefore, we conclude that opening more lazeez restaurants helps create more engineering degrees.

Ask them what causes what:

• Does X cause Y?

• Or Y cause X?

• They will not be able to answer, because this is a correlation.