Skip to content
How to Better
Sign in

One practical step

Problem Solving

Distinguish association from causation

Identify the two associated variables.

  • Time: Not specified
  • Cost: Not specified
  • Impact: Not specified
  • Difficulty: Not specified
  • Evidence not rated

Done when

Avoid claiming an unsupported cause.

Identify the two associated variables.

Who this is for

For interpreting claims, not specialist research analysis.

Why this matters

Things moving together do not by themselves establish a cause.

How to do it

Guidance compiled from the references below; follow the applicability notes for this item.

  1. Identify the two associated variables.
  2. Consider other factors or reverse direction.
  3. Inspect the study method and use association wording when causation is unestablished.

Evidence and references

  • Other
    Correlation and causation(Opens in a new tab)Australian Bureau of StatisticsCorrelation alone does not establish cause; other factors and research design matter. อ่านประกอบการเรียบเรียง / Accessed: 2026-10-05

Last reviewed: · Version 2

Related items