Whenever two events occur simultaneously, such as increasing numbers of joint bank accounts and increasing numbers of felonies, one must be careful not to
A) assume that one event is the cause of the other
B) assume that any correlation exists between them
C) assume that the data have been reported honestly
D) all of these

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Assuming one event is the cause of the other without further investigation into their relationship is a common logical fallacy known as false cause or post hoc ergo propter hoc. Correlation does not imply causation, and this choice directly addresses the caution against making unwarranted causal inferences from simultaneous occurrences. Choices B and C introduce considerations (correlation existence and data honesty) that, while important in data analysis, do not directly address the caution against assuming causation from simultaneity.

Whenever Two Events Occur Simultaneously, Such as Increasing Numbers of Joint