<P> In statistics , a spurious relationship or spurious correlation is a mathematical relationship in which two or more events or variables are not causally related to each other , yet it may be wrongly inferred that they are , due to either coincidence or the presence of a certain third , unseen factor ( referred to as a `` common response variable '' , `` confounding factor '' , or `` lurking variable '' ) . </P>
<P> In statistics , a spurious relationship or spurious correlation is a mathematical relationship in which two or more events or variables are not causally related to each other , yet it may be wrongly inferred that they are , due to either coincidence or the presence of a certain third , unseen factor ( referred to as a `` common response variable '' , `` confounding factor '' , or `` lurking variable '' ) . </P>
when would we say that the relationship between two variables x and y is spurious
when would we say that the relationship between two variables x and y is spurious
variables are not causally related to each other , yet it may be wrongly inferred that they are , due to either coincidence or the presence of a certain third , unseen factor
variables are not causally related to each other , yet it may be wrongly inferred that they are , due to either coincidence or the presence of a certain third , unseen factor