Fake News - a spotters guide #4

Correlation ≠ Causation

Correlation is when 2 things seem to be linked because statistically they change at about the same rate.

e.g. statistically more people get sunburned at the times of the year when more people are eating ice cream.

Correlation does not equal causation.

Just because more people are getting sunburnt when they are eating ice cream does not mean the ice cream is causing sunburn!

Image credit: Megapixl

Adapted from:

Fontichiaro, K., Oehrli, A. and Hoff, T. (2017). Real strategies to address fake news. Retrieved 7 May, 2018, from http://datalit.sites.uofmhosting.net/2017/06/28/ala-poster-data-literacy-strategies-for-addressing-fake-news/