Correlation vs. Causation: What’s the Difference?

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Discussion
Conclusion
References

Introduction

Correlation is a relationship between two variables that constantly change together. The method of measurement of correlation’s strengths depends on the field of study and variable quantity. Conversely, causation is a process in which one event produces another, meaning that an effect cannot emerge without a cause. Although correlation and causation might be present in the same relationship, as in two events that change together and also follow each other in a causal sequence, these two processes are not co-dependent. In many cases, correlation expresses non-subsequential relationships between several unrelated entities. In other words, correlation does not imply causation.

Discussion

There are multiple ways of measuring the strength of a correlation. As Akoglu (2018) points out, various research areas employ different measurement methods. For example, Spearman’s rho and Kendall’s Tau methods are more valuable than other means of bivariate measurements when assessing non-normal distribution (Akoglu, 2018). The measuring technique might also vary depending on the number of studied variables. For instance, if the number of variables exceeds two, Cramer’s V tabulation is preferable to a Phi Coefficient since it is designed to account for a larger number of entities (Akoglu, 2018). Although correlational analysis is a widespread time-tested statistical tool, it is not all-encapsulating and often leaves plenty of room for further research.

The weakness of a correlational analysis is that it rarely supports or concludes direct causation. For instance, in the study about the relationship between mindfulness and sustainable behavior by Geiger et al. (2019), the authors refer to this problem by stating that their meta-analysis did not find any sufficient evidence of an instrumental role of mindfulness. According to the study, “it is possible that cross-sectional correlations are simply expressions of a non-causal association between questionnaire indices of mindfulness, and similarly measured indices of sustainability variables” (Geiger et al., 2019, p. 6). Considering this, the literature on the subject is insufficient to prove the validity of mindful practices for bringing social change through sustainable behavior until further research is conducted.

The study of the relationship between mindful practices and sustainable consumption by Geiger et al. (2019) is an example of the difference between causality and correlation. According to the authors, the previous literature on the subject was insufficient to warrant a causal link between mindfulness and sustainability. To rectify the research gap, they conducted a new study that would search specifically for mindfulness’s instrumental value. According to their findings, “supporting evidence concerning direct causal effects of mindfulness upon sustainable consumption behaviors is lacking, and the correlational data, as well, are modest in magnitude” (Geiger et al., 2019, p. 7). In short, although the data supports the mutual change of both variables, id est the correlation, the direct causal link between them cannot be logically inferred.

Conclusion

In conclusion, correlation is a statistical measure of a relationship between two simultaneously changing variables. It is widely employed in research and has numerous different methods of operation that depend on the size of a sample and the purpose of the study. Although correlational studies are ubiquitous in research, they have some notable shortcomings, such as the inability to warrant a causal connection. Correlation is different from causation in that it does not imply a direct relationship between variables. A study of mindfulness’s effects on sustainable consumer behavior by Geiger et al. (2019) serves as an example of this distinction. The researchers found a positive correlation in the study but could not infer a direct causal connection between mindfulness and sustainability.

References

Akoglu, H. (2018). User’s guide to correlation coefficients. Turkish Journal of Emergency Medicine, 18(3), 91-93.

Geiger, S. M., Grossman, P., & Schrader, U. (2019). Mindfulness and sustainability: Correlation or causation?. Current Opinion in Psychology, 28, 23-27.

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Correlation vs. Causation: What’s the Difference?

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