Question

a class experiment shows a negative correlation between the width of a persons palm and the amount of time they spend watching television each day
does the correlation in the situation illustrate causation?
explain your reasoning

Explanation:

Correlation does not imply causation. Just because there is a negative correlation between palm width and time spent watching TV does not mean one causes the other. There could be other variables (confounding variables) at play, or it could be a coincidence. For example, maybe people with wider palms are more likely to engage in other activities (not related to TV - watching) that take up their time.

Answer:

No, the correlation in the situation does not illustrate causation. Correlation ≠ causation. There could be confounding variables or it could be a random association.