Fallacy - the Counterfeit of Argument

[JimP]

(08-31-2019 02:27 PM)SlideRule Wrote:  Correlation does not imply causation.

Sadly, there are a lot of scientists (many of them physicians) who believe they have discovered a cause for some kind of effect, by citing a correlation. Upon publication, this can be like a snowball rolling downhill. Years later, often with much money spent, and much money made, this correlation becomes part of everyday life (or worse, "treatment guidelines"!) It is indeed the bete noir of good methodology, for once embedded in accepted literature, the work required to remove it is not only astronomically hard, it is also met with severe resistance from those whose financial, or control positions might be threatened as a result.