Examples from the media often imply causation from correlation.  The following articles can be used in both the classroom as examples, for students to discuss in small groups, or as a take-home assignment. Are the conclusions drawn in these articles warranted? Sometimes they are.

1. Excessive internet use linked to depression (2010)

2. Eating candy as a child predicts violent behavior as an adult. (2009)
3. "[H]ow intensely people smile in childhood photographs, as indicated by crow’s feet around the eyes, predicts their adult marriage success." (2009)
4. "People over 60 who consume moderate amounts of alcohol have a reduced risk for Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias." (2009)
5. Those who multitask the most are the worst at it. (2009)
6. "Moderate drinkers are healthier, wealthier and more educated, and they get better health care, even though they are more likely to smoke. They are even more likely to have all of their teeth." (2009)
7. "[T]he more health risks a student has - such as smoking or not eating enough fruits and vegetables - the more likely he or she is to report grades of C's and below." (2009)
8. "People who don’t get much sleep are more likely than those who do to develop calcium deposits in their coronary arteries, possibly raising their risk for heart disease," (2008)
9. "Unhappy people watch much more TV." (2008)

Positive correlations

• ice cream sales and shark attacks
• Number of bars and churches in a town
• Ice cream sales and drownings
• Self-esteem and academic achievement
• Churches and crime
• TV watching and aggressive behavior
• Stork population and family birth rates (both more common in rural areas)
• Height and weight
• power outage and birth rate nine months later (Source?)

Negative correlations

• Juvenile delinquency and parental involvement
• Self-forgiveness & procrastination. Students who forgave themselves for procrastinating on the midterm were less likely to procrastinate on the final. 
• As the temperature outside goes up, the number of items of clothing you wear goes down.
• Adult males' age and amount of hair on their heads
• Ask students to rate how masculine they are on a 7 point scale (not at all to very) and then how feminine they are on the same scale. Have them enter their data on a scattergram. You'll likely get a very strong negative correlation.
• Live friends and X-box live friends. (suggested by student; any data?)