Correlation Is Not Causation

Correlation does not equal causation: Questioning the Great Cahokia Flood.

Munoz et al. (1) present an argument for Cahokia’s demise focusing on a massive flood event ca. A.D. 1200. Although we recognize that a flood event may have occurred, we do not agree with their hypothesis that this event (i) caused the collapse of the largest Pre-Columbian city north of Mexico and (ii) occurred ca. A.D. 1200. Cahokians did not vacate the floodplain until after the mid-14th cent...

Confusion over antibiotic resistance: ecological correlation is not evidence of causation.

Vieira et al. (2011) noted that, across 11 countries, ‘‘Resistance in E. [Escherichia] coli isolates from food animals (especially poultry and pigs) was highly correlated with resistance in isolates from humans. This supports the hypothesis that a large proportion of resistant E. coli isolates causing blood stream infections in people may be derived from food sources.’’ Is this causal interpret...

Correlation and Causation

Correlation and Causation

Correlation and Causation