Correlation means all of the following except that $\_\_\_\_\_\_$.

• A. it measures the strength and direction of a linear relationship between two variables
• B. it does not distinguish between dependent and independent variables
• C. it is represented by a value between $-1$ and $1$
• D. it implies that changes in one variable cause changes in the other variable

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the concept of correlation. Correlation measures the strength and direction of a linear relationship between two variables, but it does not imply causation.
2. Step 2: Recall that correlation is symmetric, meaning it does not distinguish between dependent and independent variables; it simply quantifies how variables move together.
3. Step 3: Remember that the correlation coefficient, often denoted as \(r\), ranges between \(-1\) and \$1\(, where \)-1\( indicates a perfect negative linear relationship, \)1\( indicates a perfect positive linear relationship, and \)0$ indicates no linear relationship.
4. Step 4: Recognize that correlation does not imply causation; just because two variables are correlated does not mean that changes in one cause changes in the other.
5. Step 5: Therefore, the statement that correlation implies causation is incorrect and is the exception among the given options.