Session 5: Does This Cause That?
Ice cream sales and sunburns both go up in summer. Does ice cream cause sunburns? Learn correlation vs. causation.
Your Progress
Lessons 1-4
Practice
Session Quiz
Review
Learning Objectives
By the end of this session, you will be able to:
- Understand what correlation means: two things that change together
- Distinguish correlation from causation
- Identify hidden third variables (confounders)
- Evaluate real-world claims about cause and effect
Why This Matters
Confusing correlation with causation is one of the most common mistakes in thinking. This session gives you the tools to avoid it.
Session Lessons
1
Things That Go Together
Sometimes two things increase or decrease at the same time. But does one cause the other?
~30 minutes Discussion
2
Ice Cream and Sunburns
The classic example: ice cream sales and sunburn rates both increase in summer. Does ice cream cause sunburns?
~30 minutes Activity
3
Real Causes vs. Fake Connections
Learn to evaluate claims about cause and effect. Some are real; some just look real.
~30 minutes Discussion
4
Cause and Effect Detective
Practice evaluating real-world claims. Is it correlation, causation, or coincidence?
~30 minutes Activity