Question

The correlation coefficient for poor hearing and loud music in a group of people is 0.67. Analyze the following statement: Poor hearing is caused by listening to loud music. Is this a reasonable conclusion?

Answer 1

Answer:

Correlation does not mean causation even after having a relatively high correlation coefficient as a result.

Step-by-step explanation:

Correlation and causation are not the same. Correlation does not mean that variations in one variable cause variations in the second variable. Instead, correlation considers that variations in one variable corresponds with variations of the second variable. No more.

Correlation is an important first step to establish that one variable possibly can cause some effect on the other, but it is not a definitive answer to this question. It is crucial to find other possible factors that can explain what causes some effect.

As a conclusion, a positive and relative high correlation coefficient does not necessarily mean causation. It simply tells us that some study found that people that listen to loud music are also people with poor hearing problems, and possibly a cause to the latter variable is to listen loud music repeatedly, but it is a must to find other possible factors before definitely concluding that.