What is the distinction between correlation and causation?
Correlation refers to a relationship or association between two variables, where a change in one variable coincides with a change in another variable. Causation, on the other hand, refers to a situation where one variable directly influences or causes a change in another variable.
In other words, correlation simply shows that two variables are related and change together, but it does not necessarily mean that one variable causes the other to change. In contrast, causation implies a direct cause-and-effect relationship between two variables, where a change in one variable directly leads to a change in the other variable.
It is important to distinguish between correlation and causation, as assuming causation based on correlation alone can lead to false conclusions or misunderstandings. Additional research and evidence are needed to establish a causal relationship between two variables.