Correlation vs Causation: The Missing Link - Reasoning | Academy 4 Social
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Correlation vs Causation: Lesson Plan
Topic
Correlation does not equal causation. Correlation is a measurement of the strength and
direction of the relationship between two or more variables. Causation indicates a similar
but different relationship between variables, namely that one variable produces an effect
on another variable or causes it. Data can be strongly or weakly correlated, which shows
the strength of the link between them, as well as the strength of their predictive power.
When describing the direction of two variables’ relationship, the terms “positive” and
“negative” are used. Positively correlated data means both variables increase or decrease
together while negatively correlated data means that one variable increases while the
other decreases. Just because data correlates does not mean there’s a causal link
between them: the variables could be influenced by a third, unknown variable or just
randomly happen to correlate.
Possible subjects/classes
Time needed
Science, English, History, Philosophy,
Psychology, Sociology, Government
30-45 minutes
Video link:
https://academy4sc.org/topic/correlation-vs-causation-the-missing-link/
Objective: What will students know/be able to do at the end of class?
By the end this lesson, students will be able to...
●Explain the four descriptors for how data correlates
●Identify how correlation can indicate about the relationship between two
variables
●Explain the difference between correlation and causation
Key Concepts & Vocabulary
Causation, Correlation, Scatter plot, Strong vs Weak Correlation vs No Correlation,
Positive vs Negative Correlation
Materials Needed
