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If we show that two sets of data are correlated, do we prove a cause-and-effect relationship?

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Final answer:

Correlation does not imply causation between two sets of data. Additional research is required to establish cause-and-effect relationships.

Step-by-step explanation:

Correlation does not prove a cause-and-effect relationship between two sets of data. While correlation measures the strength and direction of the relationship between variables, it does not establish causation.

For example, if we observe a correlation between ice cream sales and burglary rates, it does not mean that ice cream sales cause burglaries or vice versa.

Therefore, it is important to note that correlation does not imply causation, and further research is needed to establish cause-and-effect relationships.

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