Describe the error in the conclusion. given: there is a linear correlation betwe

Question

Describe the error in the conclusion. given: there is a linear correlation between the number of cigarettes smoked and the pulse rate. AS the number of cigarettes increases the pulse rate increases. Conclusion cigarettes cause the pulse rate to go up. Describe the error in the conclusion. given: there is a linear correlation between the number of cigarettes smoked and the pulse rate. AS the number of cigarettes increases the pulse rate increases. Conclusion cigarettes cause the pulse rate to go up.

Explanation / Answer

ERROR in above conclusion is that "cigarettes cause the pulse rate to go up".

Correlation does not necessarily imply causation. Correlation measures the strength of linear relationship between the two variables.

in the above example I can say that there is a strong positive linear relationship between number of cigarettes smoked and the pulse rate. That is AS the number of cigarettes increases, the pulse rate increases. there can be another variable like blood pressure which increases as the number of cigarettes increases. this third variable, blood pressure affects the change in pulse rate. and hence I cannot say that cigarettes cause the pulse rate to go up.

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