PPT Slide
Correlation does not necessarily imply causality
Example: Assume that coffee consumption (X) has been found to be positively correlated with typing speed (Y). Does this mean that X can be assumed to be the cause of Y? Not necessarily…the observed correlation between X and Y could reflect at least three alternative cause-effect patterns:
Forward causation coffee consumption causes increased X Y typing speed
Backward causation fast typing causes increased coffee Y X consumption
Third-variable causation some other factor, such as tension,
Z X causes both increased coffee
Y consumption and increased typing