causation

Everyday

1. The process of one thing making another thing happen; cause and effect. tree →
2. (formal) The link showing that one event was really caused by another. tree →

In the lessons

In science, maths and history lessons pupils learn that two things happening together (correlation) does not always mean one causes the other (causation). Phrases: "correlation is not causation", "cause and causation", "prove causation".

Examples

• Scientists did tests to prove causation. tree →
• Ice cream sales and sunburn rise together, but that is not causation; the sun causes both. tree →
• Historians study the causation of wars. tree →
• Correlation does not mean causation. tree →
• We looked at causation in our science experiment. tree →

Note

Uncountable, formal word. Do not confuse with "correlation" (two things going up or down together). To show causation in science you usually need a fair test where you change only one thing.