Distortion field guide
Causal overreach
A correlation or association presented as cause and effect.
How it enters the chain
Observational studies report associations. Somewhere between the abstract and the post, is linked to becomes causes or prevents.
How to spot it
Check the study design. If nobody was randomized, be suspicious of any claim that X does Y rather than X is associated with Y.
Specimens on record (6)
TS-906553C11 Aug 2026Sustained forward head posture, rounded shoulders and spinal "compression" cause muscle overload, joint misalignment, restricted movement and stiffness, and eventually neck pain, back pain and…TS-0A9F65B629 Jul 2026Swimming pool operators once used copper as a water purifier, then discontinued this practice specifically because copper was too effective at disinfecting water without producing the negative…TS-4D3456AE21 Jul 2026Doing moderate incline walking after a resistance training session may increase the proportion of energy derived from fat, may avoid large acute cortisol spikes associated with high-intensity work,…TS-9E4EBD2C10 Jul 2026A hypothetical news headline linking sunscreen use to higher skin cancer rates would reflect confounding by phenotype and sun exposure behavior, not causation. Correctly applied and reapplied…TS-F1BD35C91 Jul 2026Eating within 3 hours of bedtime harms sleep quality and contributes to weight gain.TS-19611A8F29 Jun 2026Habitual physical activity is associated with a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes.