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Causation Vs Correlation Analysis

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Emily Hodack 1/26/17 Soc 100 Discussion 2: Chapter 2 The definition of correlation is “simultaneous variation in two variables,” (Conley, 2015, p. 46), while the definition of causality is “the notion that a change in one factor results in a corresponding change in another” (Conley, 2015, p. 48). Correlation is where you can observe a change in two different circumstances at the same time, while causation is when there is a reason that one variable causes another, or an action causes a result. With correlation there is a relationship between the variables, but there may be other factors involved that influence the outcome. Correlations can also be positive, or negative, depending on if the variables increase together (positive), or one increases while the other decreases (negative). However, in order to prove causation, there needs to be 3 different factors, “correlation, time order, and ruling out alternative explanations” (Conley, 2015, p. 48). Correlation is much easier to prove than causality or causation. Correlation is looking at two different variables and seeing that there is a relationship, but you do not have to recognize and go into depth to find the real relationship between the two. Causality is more difficult to prove than correlation because it involves more factors, and having to rule out of various explanations …show more content…

At first it may look like people who eat ice cream are unhealthy, and thus gain weight, but there may be other factors that are playing a part. A person may eat ice cream, but how often do they really eat it? What amount of ice cream do they eat each time? Is it low fat ice cream? Do they exercise? There are many different factors that go into determining causation and more specifics that are needed to determine a

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