Correlation Vs. Causation

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Countryboy
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Correlation Vs. Causation

Unread post by Countryboy »

I tend to be somewhat skeptical of 'scientific' studies. I don't accept them as gospel, but feel it is more of a matter of separating the wheat from the chaff.

I ran across an interesting article that pointed out that when analyzing things, people often make an error by not recognizing the difference between correlation and causation. While it's not bee related, it does provide for some thought provoking reading if you can look past the socialism and the 'eat the rich' mentality.

http://bullionbullscanada.com/index.php ... Itemid=131

How many times are we guilty of reading a beekeeping study that found correlation, and in our minds, we treated it as though correlation and causation were the same? After all, many beekeepers move their hives to southern states for the winter - which causes colder temperatures and snowfall in northern states, right? There is a correlation to hives heading south and colder temps here.
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Allen Dick
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Re: Correlation Vs. Causation

Unread post by Allen Dick »

Interesting link. Also interesting is the fact that the writer of the article there makes the same mistake he is pointing out. I'm not too critical though because I have found out myself how difficult it is to make a watertight case on any topic.
Allen Dick, RR#1 Swalwell, Alberta, Canada T0M 1Y0
51° 33'39.64"N 113°18'52.45"W
http://www.honeybeeworld.com/Allen%27s%20Beehives.kmz
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