Définition Spurious correlation
A spurious correlation indicates a seemingly causal relationship between to correlating variables. It is statistically existent, though not based on a cause and effect relationship.
For example, the frequency of hospital visits increases with net income. The cause of this phenomenon is likely not income, but the age of the respondents. Older people usually earn more than younger people – and are simultaneously more prone to injuries and diseases.
Les définitions de notre encyclopédie sont des explications simplifiées de termes. Notre but est de rendre ces définitions compréhensibles pour un large public. Par conséquent, il est possible que certaines d’entre elles ne soient pas entièrement à la hauteur des standards scientifiques.