Which of the following statements about correlation and causation is true?

Question

Which of the following statements about correlation and causation is true?

Causation implies correlation.

Correlation and causation are always unrelated.

Correlation cannot occur without causation.

Correlation implies causation.

Is it the last one?

Answer 1

Correlation cannot occur without causation. If two variables do not cause each other and the variables are correlated, then there must be a common cause of the two variables.

Answer 2

Klauss,

1 and 3 are true. Correlation does not imply causation.

Jim