The # of kids who were vaccinated against the flu (x) and # of kids who currently suffer from flu.(y)
Positive or negative correlation and x causes y or y causes x or both.
I know it's negative correlation but not sure of causation? Help
To determine the correlation between the number of kids vaccinated against the flu (x) and the number of kids who currently suffer from the flu (y), you can analyze data to see if there is any relationship between the two variables.
Negative correlation means that as one variable increases, the other variable decreases. In this case, it means that as the number of kids vaccinated against the flu increases, the number of kids suffering from the flu decreases.
However, correlation does not imply causation. This means that the negative correlation itself does not determine whether x causes y or y causes x, or if there is a common factor causing both variables.
To understand causation, you need to conduct further research using methods such as controlled experiments, randomized controlled trials, or longitudinal studies. These methods can help establish causal relationships between variables.
For example, to determine if vaccination causes a decrease in flu cases among kids, you can design a study where one group of kids is intentionally vaccinated while another group is not. Then, you compare the incidence of flu cases between the two groups. This way, you can isolate the effect of vaccination and determine if it is indeed causing a decrease in flu cases among vaccinated kids.
Remember, correlation only indicates a relationship between variables, and it is important to conduct further research to establish causation.