Final answer:
The phrase 'correlation implies causation' is false; correlation only indicates a relationship between variables, not a cause-and-effect dynamic.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that correlation implies causation is false. Correlation simply means there is a statistical association between two variables; it does not establish that one variable causes the other to occur. A classic example of the misuse of correlation is thinking that because ice cream sales and crime rates increase during the summer months, one must cause the other. In reality, the confounding variable of temperature likely affects both. Similarly, causal relationships require rigorous testing and analysis, often through controlled experiments, to rule out other potential variables and establish a true cause-and-effect relationship. Thus, while correlational research is valuable for identifying relationships and generating hypotheses, it is not definitive for establishing causation.