Stats
An amusing correlation (June 5, 2006) Category:
Linear regression
I always like simple amusing examples that illustrate an important statistical point. An
email by JW on EDSTAT-L offer a couple of examples.
The first is the statistician who reviewed fire department records and concluded the more
fire engines you send to the scene of a fire, the more damage they cause. This is an example
illustrating that it is not necessarily A causing B, but rather B causing A. I have used this
example in my classes often.
A second example is good, and it is one that I had not heard before, though it is
apparently used quite commonly. See for example, the Wikipedia entry on correlation and
causation:
This example shows a strong correlation between ice cream sales and crime rates. The
"obvious" interpretation is that ice cream causes crime. A more logical interpretation is
that both ice cream sales and crime rate are correlated with outdoor temperature.
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09/24/2007.
