Correlation is an occurrence or action that can cause or correlates to another action. An example would be smoking. When a person smokes the chemicals inhaled could cause alcoholism. We could correlate that a smoker will abuse alcohol. This cannot be definitely proved but there is a connection between the two. In this scenario, one action affects the other.
Causation is the one action actually causes the other action. There is a direct connection between the two. The one action will have a predictable conclusion. An example would be if you light a match there will be fire and it will be hot.
A few examples of correlation are:
1. Wealthy people are thin.
There is no positive proof that being wealthy will make you thin. They do have the money to join a gym and eat properly to be thin but having money does not prove that they will be thin.
2. People with long hair do better on audio memory tests.
Having long hair does not mean you will do better on audio memory tests. Long hair does not allow you to hear better. There is no proof that this is a fact.
3. Students with fewer clothes perform worse on standardized tests.
What do clothes have to do with testing? Where is the proof that clothes make you smarter. More and better clothing might correlate to giving you more confidence on a test but if you do not have the knowledge no matter what you wear you will probably not succeed.
4. Money is the root of all evil.
Again, where is the proof? A lot of people have money and use it for the good of others. They donate to charities and anonymously give to people in need.
An example of causation is:
1. Ice cream melts when heated.
This is a fact and can be given positive proof. Heat will cause the ice cream to melt. This is the cause of it melting.
Causation and correlation are close but there is a definite difference between the two and critical thinking can play a part in deciphering between the