Correlation and causation are two different concepts that are often confused by people. Correlation is a measure of how two variables relate to each other, while causation is an indication of the cause of the phenomenon or behavior. Understanding the differences between correlation and causation can help in interpreting data correctly.
What is Correlation?
Correlation is the degree to which two variables are related. It is a measure of how one variable affects another and is expressed as a coefficient that ranges from -1 to 1. A positive correlation indicates that when one variable increases, the other also increases. A negative correlation means that when one variable increases, the other decreases. A correlation of 0 indicates that the two variables are not related.What is Causation?
Causation is the relationship between two variables where one variable causes the other. It is an indication of the cause of a phenomenon or behavior. It is not always easy to determine causation as there could be multiple causes and other variables that need to be taken into account.Comparison Between Correlation and Causation
Correlation | Causation |
---|---|
Measures the relationship between two variables | Indication of the cause of a phenomenon or behavior |
Coefficient ranges from -1 to 1 | Can be difficult to determine |
Does not indicate the cause of the phenomenon or behavior | Indicates the cause of the phenomenon or behavior |