What does it mean to say "correlation does not imply causation"? Choose the correct answer below. A. Two variables can only be strongly correlated if there existed a cause-and-effect relationship between the variables. B. The fact that two variables are strongly correlated does not in itself imply a cause-and-effect relationship between the variables. C. The fact that two variables are strongly correlated implies a cause-and-effect relationship between the variables. D. Two variables that have a cause-and-effect relationship are never correlated.

B. The fact that two variables are strongly correlated does not in itself imply a cause-and-effect relationship between the variables.

Step-by-step explanation:

The term "correlation does not imply causation", simply means that because we can deduce a link between two factors or sets of data, it does not necessarily prove that there is a cause-and-effect relationship between the two variables. In some cases, there could indeed be a cause-and-effect relationship but it cannot be said for certain that this would always be the case.

While correlation shows the linear relationship between two things, causation implies that an event occurs because of another event. So the phrase is actually saying that because two factors are related, it does not mean that it is as a result of a causal factor. It could simply be a coincidence. This occurs because of our effort to seek an explanation for the occurrence of certain events.