In the discussion of correlation and causation, correlation means:
A)two sets of phenomena may be related, but one does not necessarily cause the other.
B)two sets of phenomena are not related and one may in fact cause the other.
C)that when two phenomena are repeatedly observed together, one must cause the other.
D)that if a groundhog sees his shadow in February, this phenomena causes there to be six more weeks of bad weather.

Question

In the discussion of correlation and causation, correlation means:
A)​two sets of phenomena may be related, but one does not necessarily cause the other.
B)​two sets of phenomena are not related and one may in fact cause the other.
C)​that when two phenomena are repeatedly observed together, one must cause the other.
D)​that if a groundhog sees his shadow in February, this phenomena causes there to be six more weeks of bad weather.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Correlation refers to a relationship or association between two variables, but it does not necessarily imply causation. In other words, just because two variables are correlated, it does not mean that one causes the other. There could be other variables or factors that affect both variables, or the relationship may be purely coincidental. Therefore, option A is the best choice. Option B suggests that there is a causal relationship, which contradicts the definition of correlation. Option C is too strong and absolute because it does not allow for other possible explanations. Option D is an unrelated and humorous statement, but it does not provide a valid explanation for the concept of correlation and causation.

In the Discussion of Correlation and Causation, Correlation Means