Correlation Does Not Equal Causality

As we move into the third decade of the twenty-first century, the amount of data being generated and accessible to the public continues to grow at a rapid pace. Data are present and utilized in different contexts by many people, including academic researchers, private companies, and government agencies. However, with greater access to data comes a heightened risk that incorrect or incomplete information will be presented as fact. Data are highly amenable to manipulation and can then be passed off in the media as fact. For these reasons, it is often difficult to determine the accuracy and reliability of certain data. To combat these issues, we can introduce critical thinking and data literacy education into our workshop curriculum. The purpose of this chapter is to introduce a workshop session and activities designed to present general data literacy principles and practices in a way that is understandable and accessible to a wide student audience.