Figure 15-5
Three Possible Causal Explanations for a Correlation Any correlation can be explained in one of several ways. The first variable, (A), might cause the second variable, (B). Or the reverse could be true—the second variable, (B), could cause the first variable, (A). Finally, a third variable, (C), could cause both (A) and (B). In fact, there could be many “third” variables.