Causation and Correlation

Causation and Correlation

Genna Lee

psy/285

5/3/2014

Causation and Correlation

1. Wealthy people are thin.

I would classify this as correlation, I say this because while it is a fact that many wealthy individuals are thin due to a stronger financial ability to eat healthier and obtain the added expense of gym memberships or plastic surgeons, it is also a fact that not all wealthy people are thin. Many of our most famous actors and actresses lean to the overweight scale, some examples are Anthony Anderson, Kristie Alley, William Shatner and Kathleen Turner, just to name a few examples. It can also be proven that many, many people of poverty level financial situations are just as thin if not thinner than a wealthy individual.

2. People with long hair do better on audio memory tests.

I would classify this as correlation. I would justify this with the proven facts that while size of brain, frequency of use, whether the individual uses left or right side and even density of gray matter and hearing ability all effect the success of an individual's performance on an audio memory test, there is not supportive data to show that whether or not a person has long or short hair will affect the tests outcome.

3. Ice Cream melts when heated.

I would classify this as causation. It is a daily proven inevitability that anything cold or frozen will begin to de thaw or melt when applied to a heat source. This not only applies to ice cream but also ice, frozen meats, vegetables, pizza, act.

4. Students with fewer clothes perform worse on standardized tests.

I would classify this as correlation. I say this because clothing has little to nothing to do with test taking. I also find it too vague of a statement. Is it referring to owing more or less clothing or whether or not the individual is wearing more or less clothing while taking the test? I cannot think of any causation that would link the halving of one to the passing success of the other.

5. Money is...