4 ms·
Where do hypotheses come from if correlation isn't weak evidence for causation?
by foobarbazqux 13y ago
Where do hypotheses come from if correlation isn't weak evidence for causation?
- mortehu 13y agoUsually, you have some additional information, aside from the correlation itself. For example, instead of just knowing "some variable X correlates with some variable Y", you may know what X and Y actually are, and some facts about similar entities.
- foobarbazqux 13y agoBut don't you have that additional information in the Simpson's paradox examples?
- reeses 13y agoActually, that is precisely why you should form a hypothesis based on correlation. A properly conducted experiment should elucidate any causative link between the elements and the direction of those elements. Hypotheses are cheap. Create lots of them. Being 'wrong' about a hypothesis is awesome. It's the path of Reason. (Yes, I woke up this morning wanting to capitalize terms for definitional emphasis. Sorry.)