Editorial: Correlation, causation and confusion

Correlation and Causation

Correlation and Causation

Correlation and Causation

Correlation and Causation

The ideal method of science is the study of the direct influence of one condition on another in experiments in which all other possible causes of variation are eliminated. Unfortunately, causes of variation often seem to be beyond control. In the biological sciences, especially, one often has to deal with a group of characteristics or conditions which are correlated because of a complex of inte...

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...