Incoprea Theory
Vol. XXXI · 129

Theory 61/Correlation implies causation

Sometimes It's a Collider

The claim

Correlation can arise from conditioning on a common effect, so the association exists only in the selected sample.

01Mechanism

Conditioning on a collider induces dependence between its causes.

02Prediction

Association should vanish in the unconditioned population.

03Refutation

Association persisting would remove the collider account.