Correlation Versus Causation
Statistics Discussion Board Prompt
First: consider the difference between correlation and causation. How would you describe these two terms to a fellow coworker? Why is it misleading to argue that correlational data demonstrates a cause-effect relationship?
Next:If your study used correlation, what is the danger of arguing that one variable caused the other? Locate an article that demonstrates either correlation or causation. Describe, the methodology that was used in the study and the results that were obtained. What conclusions can be stated from the data? If your study used causation, what are the limitations of applying a causal relationship identified in research to a real-world setting?
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Correlation Versus Causation
A note on sources
Only scholarly sources are acceptable in graduate-level discussion posts and must be properly cited according to APA 7th edition.
- Acceptable sources include peer-reviewed publications, government reports, or sources written by a professional or scholar in the field. Wikipedia, .com websites, or blogs are not acceptable. When using internet sources, only reputable websites by government agencies (.gov) or respected organizations (.org) will be considered to be scholarly sources
Understanding Correlation and Causation
Correlation occurs when two variables appear related but do not influence each other directly. Causation means one variable directly affects another. I would explain this distinction to a coworker by using a simple example. Ice cream sales and drowning incidents rise together in summer. However, eating ice cream does not cause drowning. The real factor is warmer weather. It is misleading to claim a causal link from correlational data because other variables may influence both outcomes. Without a controlled experiment, establishing causality is speculative………….
Article Example and Study Analysis
I found a peer-reviewed article by Biddle et al. (2020), which explored the relationship between screen time and depression in adolescents. The study used a correlational design with survey data from over 3,500 adolescents. Researchers measured hours of daily screen use and reported symptoms of depression. Results showed a positive correlation between longer screen time and higher depression scores.
However, the study did not control all external variables, such as family support or sleep habits. Therefore, while screen time and depression are linked, the study cannot claim one causes the other. Arguing for causality would be misleading and scientifically inaccurate…………….
