Comments on: HR Measurement: The Difference Between Correlation and Causality http://www.knowhr.com/blog/2007/10/17/hr-measurement-the-difference-between-correlation-and-causality/ Know More HR. Fri, 19 Mar 2010 22:05:39 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Frank Roche http://www.knowhr.com/blog/2007/10/17/hr-measurement-the-difference-between-correlation-and-causality/comment-page-1/#comment-2593 Frank Roche Mon, 22 Oct 2007 14:02:35 +0000 http://www.knowhr.com/blog/2007/10/17/hr-measurement-the-difference-between-correlation-and-causality/#comment-2593 John, that's even BETTER than the Vince Lombardi line...fun. That's the winner. John, that’s even BETTER than the Vince Lombardi line…fun. That’s the winner.

]]> By: John Hoderny http://www.knowhr.com/blog/2007/10/17/hr-measurement-the-difference-between-correlation-and-causality/comment-page-1/#comment-2592 John Hoderny Mon, 22 Oct 2007 13:15:47 +0000 http://www.knowhr.com/blog/2007/10/17/hr-measurement-the-difference-between-correlation-and-causality/#comment-2592 Unfortunately we can't attribute that quote to my dad - that one belongs to Vince Lombardi. The one you can attribute to my dad is, "Either be an example or I'll make one out of you." Unfortunately we can’t attribute that quote to my dad – that one belongs to Vince Lombardi.

The one you can attribute to my dad is, “Either be an example or I’ll make one out of you.”

]]> By: Frank Roche http://www.knowhr.com/blog/2007/10/17/hr-measurement-the-difference-between-correlation-and-causality/comment-page-1/#comment-2591 Frank Roche Mon, 22 Oct 2007 13:11:07 +0000 http://www.knowhr.com/blog/2007/10/17/hr-measurement-the-difference-between-correlation-and-causality/#comment-2591 John, that's a god one by Mark Twain. So true. My fave quote of all time is by Mr Hoderny: Get fired with with enthusiam or you'll be fired with enthusiasm. The best! John, that’s a god one by Mark Twain. So true. My fave quote of all time is by Mr Hoderny: Get fired with with enthusiam or you’ll be fired with enthusiasm. The best!

]]> By: John Hoderny http://www.knowhr.com/blog/2007/10/17/hr-measurement-the-difference-between-correlation-and-causality/comment-page-1/#comment-2583 John Hoderny Fri, 19 Oct 2007 17:54:43 +0000 http://www.knowhr.com/blog/2007/10/17/hr-measurement-the-difference-between-correlation-and-causality/#comment-2583 Great topic Frank - near and dear to my heart. Bill, thanks for the tip on The Numbers Guy. One of my stats profs started his class like this: "There are three kinds of lies - lies, damned lies and statistics." - Mark Twain The 2008 election is coming up - all three kinds are in play. Great topic Frank – near and dear to my heart. Bill, thanks for the tip on The Numbers Guy.

One of my stats profs started his class like this:
“There are three kinds of lies – lies, damned lies and statistics.”
- Mark Twain

The 2008 election is coming up – all three kinds are in play.

]]> By: Frank Roche http://www.knowhr.com/blog/2007/10/17/hr-measurement-the-difference-between-correlation-and-causality/comment-page-1/#comment-2578 Frank Roche Thu, 18 Oct 2007 02:31:10 +0000 http://www.knowhr.com/blog/2007/10/17/hr-measurement-the-difference-between-correlation-and-causality/#comment-2578 Scott, you write some really brilliant material and I really like reading your stuff. You're a thinker in blogdom and I've learned a lot about your project approach. It's excellent. Thanks for the article...nice work. Scott, you write some really brilliant material and I really like reading your stuff. You’re a thinker in blogdom and I’ve learned a lot about your project approach. It’s excellent.

Thanks for the article…nice work.

]]> By: Scott Sehlhorst http://www.knowhr.com/blog/2007/10/17/hr-measurement-the-difference-between-correlation-and-causality/comment-page-1/#comment-2577 Scott Sehlhorst Thu, 18 Oct 2007 00:52:13 +0000 http://www.knowhr.com/blog/2007/10/17/hr-measurement-the-difference-between-correlation-and-causality/#comment-2577 Thanks VERY much for linking to my article. I would love to see the WSJ story too. I was inspired to write this while reading Freakonomics on the plane on Monday. Fantastic book! Anyway, loved your article too, and I appreciate the mention. Scott Thanks VERY much for linking to my article. I would love to see the WSJ story too. I was inspired to write this while reading Freakonomics on the plane on Monday. Fantastic book!

Anyway, loved your article too, and I appreciate the mention.

Scott

]]> By: Frank Roche http://www.knowhr.com/blog/2007/10/17/hr-measurement-the-difference-between-correlation-and-causality/comment-page-1/#comment-2574 Frank Roche Wed, 17 Oct 2007 23:13:05 +0000 http://www.knowhr.com/blog/2007/10/17/hr-measurement-the-difference-between-correlation-and-causality/#comment-2574 Bill, I guess I'm not a WSJ guy, but I need to be. That column alone would be worth the subscription. Plus, that cool single column story that they do. Thanks for that ref. That kind of teaching with your people is what's essential. As you say, get the numbers right and make them make sense. Very, very good indeed. Hi Wally -- that's a really great example. And it really gets the mind moving...I am still moving my mouth around as I ponder that one. I'll borrow that one and give you attribution when I do. Bill, I guess I’m not a WSJ guy, but I need to be. That column alone would be worth the subscription. Plus, that cool single column story that they do. Thanks for that ref.

That kind of teaching with your people is what’s essential. As you say, get the numbers right and make them make sense. Very, very good indeed.

Hi Wally — that’s a really great example. And it really gets the mind moving…I am still moving my mouth around as I ponder that one. I’ll borrow that one and give you attribution when I do.

]]> By: Wally Bock http://www.knowhr.com/blog/2007/10/17/hr-measurement-the-difference-between-correlation-and-causality/comment-page-1/#comment-2572 Wally Bock Wed, 17 Oct 2007 21:37:26 +0000 http://www.knowhr.com/blog/2007/10/17/hr-measurement-the-difference-between-correlation-and-causality/#comment-2572 My favorite way to remember the difference is to remember a teacher I had for one of my quantitative methods courses. He started the lecture by biting into a big juicy Bermuda onion, looked at the class and said, "Now I’m going to die. If you bite into a raw onion you will die." That launched us into a discussion of causation and correlation. My favorite way to remember the difference is to remember a teacher I had for one of my quantitative methods courses. He started the lecture by biting into a big juicy Bermuda onion, looked at the class and said, “Now I’m going to die. If you bite into a raw onion you will die.” That launched us into a discussion of causation and correlation.

]]> By: Bill Strahan http://www.knowhr.com/blog/2007/10/17/hr-measurement-the-difference-between-correlation-and-causality/comment-page-1/#comment-2571 Bill Strahan Wed, 17 Oct 2007 21:30:17 +0000 http://www.knowhr.com/blog/2007/10/17/hr-measurement-the-difference-between-correlation-and-causality/#comment-2571 Albert is so right (like you). One resource that I use to constantly keep myself in check is reading a column in the Wall Street Journal called "The Numbers Guy". Each column is a detailed explanation about the proper or improper use of quantitative analysis, or data, or the description of numbers. If you want a great exercise, look up the archives of the column. In it he has a quiz that is used by an editor to determine if writers can express numerical concepts and facts accurately in their writing. I use it with my HR team to reinforce that it's not just about the number being correct, it's describing to the audience what that number is correct about. What does that number mean. I am in Compensation and Benefits - we use numbers all of the time and making sure that our lay person audience really understands us is a matter of business and ethical responsibility. Albert is so right (like you). One resource that I use to constantly keep myself in check is reading a column in the Wall Street Journal called “The Numbers Guy”. Each column is a detailed explanation about the proper or improper use of quantitative analysis, or data, or the description of numbers.

If you want a great exercise, look up the archives of the column. In it he has a quiz that is used by an editor to determine if writers can express numerical concepts and facts accurately in their writing. I use it with my HR team to reinforce that it’s not just about the number being correct, it’s describing to the audience what that number is correct about. What does that number mean. I am in Compensation and Benefits – we use numbers all of the time and making sure that our lay person audience really understands us is a matter of business and ethical responsibility.

]]> By: Frank Roche http://www.knowhr.com/blog/2007/10/17/hr-measurement-the-difference-between-correlation-and-causality/comment-page-1/#comment-2570 Frank Roche Wed, 17 Oct 2007 19:13:28 +0000 http://www.knowhr.com/blog/2007/10/17/hr-measurement-the-difference-between-correlation-and-causality/#comment-2570 Ah, Albert, I'd like to hear that. It makes sense...we believe things with stats even when they're wrong! Ah, Albert, I’d like to hear that. It makes sense…we believe things with stats even when they’re wrong!

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