Study Reveals Researchers Don’t Know Difference Between Correlation and Causation

LiveScience (via Yahoo.com) has an article stating that children in homes full of books and educational games are less likely to be spanked than their counterparts.

The article goes on to imply that if you give your kids books and games they won’t cause as much trouble as kids that don’t have such luxuries. While their may be some truth to that, it’s more likely that these two are simply correlated to another event: parents who care.

Research will also show that the more active, caring, and envolved parents have more well behaved children. Buying books and games is something a caring parent does.

I guess there’s 2 lessons to learn from this article:

1.) Just because 2 things are related doesn’t mean one causes the other.
2.) Merely buying your kid books and games won’t make him well behaved. You have to spend time with him too!

2 comments January 25th, 2007