Causation

Causation / Causality

What is it?

Bringing in the idea that some events or conditions can be considered as the causes of other events or conditions, the Oxford University Express (2016) develops the concept of causation which is based on our own observations. These observations typically involve causes with effects that are immediately apparent. This refers to the IF-THEN rule in which it links the Cause and Effect [See Figure 1]. If the effect occurs immediately after the cause, then it is considered as a unique cause.

Figure 1 - Causation: the IF-THEN rule

In addition,  states that 'the Causation indicates a relationship between two events where one event is affected by the other'. In statistics, when the value of one event, or variable, increases or decreases as a result of other events, it is said there is causation.

Similarly,  defines the causation as the Connection between two events or states such that one produces or brings about the other; where one is the cause and the other its effect. This causation also called causality.

Further, with more information,  explains that Causation, or causality, is the capacity of one variable to influence another. It indicates that the first variable may bring the second into existence or may cause the incidence of the second variable to fluctuate. Importantly, the Whatls.com warns that Causation is often confused with correlation in which the causation showing the extent to which two variables tend to increase or decrease in parallel.

Why does Causation matter?

Important notes

Practically, in terms of Cause and Effect as mentioned, Causation is often confused with Correlation; however, Whatls (2016) reminds that correlation by itself does not imply causation. In other words, Correlation alone cannot prove that there is causation effect (Sridhar, 2016). It gives the idea that there may be a third factor or influence that is responsible for the fluctuations in both variables.

References

Business Dictionary.com (2016). Causation. Retrieved 22/4/2016 from

Oxford University Express (2016). Causation. Retrieved 22/4/2016from

                http://global.oup.com/us/companion.websites/9780199754557/pdf/2e-Chap3.pdf

Sridhar, U. (2016). Lecture week 2:Correlation, Causation and Descriptive Statistics [PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved from UTSOnline for week 2.                 Autumn semester

Study.com (2016). Causation. Retrieved 22/4/2016 from

WhatI.com (2016). Causation. Retrieved 22/4/2016 from http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/causation

Useful links: