Correlation vs Causation – LNAT Question Types Explained

What is the difference between ‘Correlation’ and ‘Causation’?

Correlation

‘Correlation’ is a statistical relationship between two variables, indicating that they tend to move together or have a mutual association.

Correlation implies an association without necessarily indicating causation, while causation demonstrates a direct link where one variable causes changes in the other.

Examples of Correlation

• Height and shoe size – Taller people tend to have larger shoe sizes.
• Ice cream sales and drowning incidents – Both tend to increase during summer months.
• Education level and income – Higher education levels are associated with higher incomes.
• Number of firetrucks at a fire scene and the amount of damage – Bigger fires require more firetrucks and cause more damage.
• Social media usage and anxiety – High social media usage is associated with higher levels of anxiety.

Causation

‘Causation’ refers to a cause-and-effect relationship between two variables, where one variable directly influences the outcome of the other.

Establishing causation often requires controlled experiments or additional data to rule out alternative explanations.

Examples of Causation

• Smoking and lung cancer – Smoking causes lung cancer.
• Sun exposure and sunburn – Excessive sun exposure causes sunburn.
• Exercise and weight loss – Engaging in regular exercise can cause weight loss.
• Vaccination and immunity – Receiving a vaccine can cause immunity to a specific disease.
• Overeating and weight gain – Consuming more calories than expended causes weight gain.

To differentiate between ‘Correlation’ and ‘Causation,’ look for evidence of a direct cause-and-effect relationship.

How to answer Correlation and Causation questions in the LNAT?

• Understand the difference between correlation and causation.
• Look for keywords that indicate correlation or causation.
• Analyze whether a direct cause-and-effect relationship exists.
• Be cautious of “spurious correlations” or confounding variables.
• Consider the strength of the correlation or the presence of alternative explanations.
• Remember that correlation does not imply causation.
• Evaluate the type of study or research conducted to establish the relationship.
• Be aware of temporal precedence – the cause must come before the effect.
• Pay attention to context and the plausibility of the cause-and-effect relationship.
• Practice reading comprehension questions related to correlation and causation to become more familiar with the types of questions and answer choices.

Remember ! Questions in the LNAT may not always have the keywords ‘Correlation’ or ‘Causation’. Read the question carefully to understand the intention – what does the question want you to do?

Examples of ‘Correlation’ questions that may appear in LNAT.

Question 1: Which of the following represents a correlation rather than a causation?
a. Seatbelt usage and reduced car accident fatalities
b. Studying more and better exam results
c. Deforestation and increased CO2 levels
d. Caffeine consumption and improved alertness
e. Owning a library card and higher literacy rates

Question 2: Which statement best describes the relationship between correlation and causation?
a. Correlation always implies causation.
b. Causation always implies correlation.
c. Correlation and causation are interchangeable terms.
d. Correlation implies an association, while causation implies a direct cause-and-effect relationship.
e. There is no relationship between correlation and causation.

Question 3: Which scenario is most likely to be a correlation rather than causation?
a. Increased chocolate consumption and acne
b. Rising global temperatures and melting ice caps
c. Exercise and improved cardiovascular health
d. Drinking alcohol and liver damage
e. Umbrella usage and rainy weather

Question 4: What is a potential issue when determining if a relationship is correlational or causal?
a. There are never enough data points to make a determination.
b. There may be confounding variables that impact the relationship.
c. It is impossible to determine the difference between correlation and causation.
d. Causal relationships are always weaker than correlational ones.
e. There are no issues when determining the nature of the relationship.

Question 5: Which scenario best exemplifies the concept of a “spurious correlation”?
a. Drinking coffee and heart rate increase
b. Living near a cell tower and developing cancer
c. Exercise and decreased risk of heart disease
d. Number of pirates and global warming
e. Alcohol consumption and impaired driving

Keywords to identify and answer ‘Correlation’ related questions in the LNAT.

• Association
• Relationship
• Link
• Coefficient
• Connected

Examples of ‘Causation’ questions that may appear in LNAT.

Question 1: Which of the following statements best describes causation?
a. Two variables tend to move together but have no direct influence on each other.
b. Causation occurs when one variable has a direct cause-and-effect relationship with another variable.
c. Causation means that two variables are always positively related.
d. Causation implies that two variables are negatively related.
e. Causation occurs when two variables are completely unrelated.

Question 2: Which of the following represents a causation rather than a correlation?
a. The number of birds in a park and the amount of litter present
b. Daily exercise and improved mental well-being
c. The number of ice cream sales and drowning incidents
d. The number of car accidents and the price of gasoline
e. The age of a tree and the number of leaves it has

Question 3: What type of study is best suited to establish causation?
a. Observational study
b. Cross-sectional study
c. Longitudinal study
d. Randomized controlled trial
e. Case study

Question 4: What is a necessary condition to establish causation?
a. A strong correlation between the two variables
b. A third variable that explains the relationship between the two variables
c. A direct cause-and-effect relationship between the two variables
d. A lack of correlation between the two variables
e. The presence of a negative relationship between the two variables

Question 5: Which of the following is NOT a requirement for establishing causation?
a. Temporal precedence
b. Covariation of cause and effect
c. No alternative explanations
d. A negative correlation between the variables
e. A plausible mechanism linking the cause and effect

Keywords to identify and answer ‘Causation’ related questions in the LNAT.

• Cause
• Effect
• Consequence
• Result
• Influence

Answers to the questions in this article

Correlation Questions

• Question 1: e. Owning a library card and higher literacy rates
• Question 2: d. Correlation implies an association, while causation implies a direct cause-and-effect relationship.
• Question 3: e. Umbrella usage and rainy weather
• Question 4: b. There may be confounding variables that impact the relationship.
• Question 5: d. Number of pirates and global warming

Causation Questions

• Question 1: b. Causation occurs when one variable has a direct cause-and-effect relationship with another variable.
• Question 2: b. Daily exercise and improved mental well-being
• Question 3: d. Randomized controlled trial
• Question 4: c. A direct cause-and-effect relationship between the two variables
• Question 5: d. A negative correlation between the variables