From 8d4bf666146131d2ba54e42509730fde0042fde2 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Dalton Harmsen <44290610+dharmsen@users.noreply.github.com> Date: Thu, 22 Nov 2018 05:00:14 +0100 Subject: [PATCH] Added correlation =/= causation (#22433) with explanatory applications. --- .../principles/correlation-does-not-imply-causation/index.md | 2 +- 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 1 deletion(-) diff --git a/guide/english/machine-learning/principles/correlation-does-not-imply-causation/index.md b/guide/english/machine-learning/principles/correlation-does-not-imply-causation/index.md index 4b4f21027c..0b90dc2dfa 100644 --- a/guide/english/machine-learning/principles/correlation-does-not-imply-causation/index.md +++ b/guide/english/machine-learning/principles/correlation-does-not-imply-causation/index.md @@ -19,5 +19,5 @@ This is because a correlation between two variables can be explained by many rea - There is another variable that is influencing both variables under examination. This would _not_ be a causal relationship. For example, number of cars owned and size of the house may be correlated, but these two variables are influenced by another variable: salary. An increase in the number of cars owned does not influence the size of the house. - Correlation could be a random accident. This would _not_ be a causal relationship. This is the explanation for the previous example of margarine consumption and the divorce rate in Maine. -In machine learning, correlation suffices for making a predictive model. However, just because two variables are correlated does not mean one variable influences the other. In other words, although machine learning may help find a relationship between two variables, it does not necessarily help find the reason for the relationship. +In machine learning, correlation suffices for making a predictive model. However, just because two variables are correlated does not mean one variable influences the other. In other words, although machine learning may help find a relationship between two variables, it does not necessarily help find the reason for the relationship. Because of this, explanatory applications not only need correlation, but also causation.