Difference between revisions of "Causal association"
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'''Causal association''' is the presence or absence of a variable (e.g. [[smoking]]) is responsible for an increase or decrease in another variable (e.g. [[cancer]]). A change in exposure leads to a change in the outcome of interest.<ref>http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/about/terms/glossary.htm#c</ref> | '''Causal association''' is the presence or absence of a variable (e.g. [[smoking]]) is responsible for an increase or decrease in another variable (e.g. [[cancer]]). A change in exposure leads to a change in the outcome of interest.<ref>http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/about/terms/glossary.htm#c</ref> | ||
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| + | It is important to bear in mind that [[correlation is not causation]], or in other words that the change in one variable is not automatically the cause of the change in the other variable. There could be other relationships at work instead, e.g., a common underlying cause for both, a reversal of cause and effect, or coincidence. It is also important not to commit the [[Logical_fallacy#Post_hoc_ergo_propter_hoc|''post hoc'' fallacy]]. | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 22:00, February 1, 2012
Causal association is the presence or absence of a variable (e.g. smoking) is responsible for an increase or decrease in another variable (e.g. cancer). A change in exposure leads to a change in the outcome of interest.[1]
It is important to bear in mind that correlation is not causation, or in other words that the change in one variable is not automatically the cause of the change in the other variable. There could be other relationships at work instead, e.g., a common underlying cause for both, a reversal of cause and effect, or coincidence. It is also important not to commit the post hoc fallacy.