Reply #33: bad, bad use of statistics.... [View All]

[mike_c]

Correlation does not imply causation. Both grade retention and dropping out would likely be correlated with other indicators of poor performance, but there is NO reason to believe that there is any causal link between those particular circumstances. Students who are frustrated by their inability to achieve academic success for a whole host of possible reasons would likely have increased probabilities of BOTH grade retention and eventually dropping out-- and the real cause would be the unmeasured (or measured) other possible reasons.

Using a correlation this way is very very bad statistics. It's a sign of untrustworthiness if deliberate, and ignorance if inadvertent.