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The closer the linear correlation coefficient between two observations x and y is to 1, the more evidence one has to claim that x causes y

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4 votes

Answer:

False. (Very!)

Explanation:

Linear correlation carries no information about causation between two random variables. The closer the linear correlation coefficient to 1, the stronger the correlation between x and y, that is all. Correlation is a term reflecting a "degree of association" (or, cooccurrence, or co-incidence, if you will) but never of causality. There are many examples of correlations being misinterpreted as causal relationships. Particularly in popular reporting on outcomes of various medical studies.

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User Neelam Verma
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