Pearson: spurious correlation from shared indices

What changed

Researchers gained a concrete test of whether index construction itself manufactures association.

Scientific scope

Pearson's 1897 article; appended Galton/Weldon notes, later ratio literature and spurious regression excluded.

Evidence

The linked sources identify this contribution and its scope. WRS has not independently reconstructed the scientific claims. The record is Pearson’s exact 1897 paper on correlations induced by indices. Galton and Weldon’s appended notes, later ratio-correlation analyses, spurious regression and general causal uses of the phrase remain separate.

Contributors

• Karl Pearson · SCIENCE: Named source author of the scoped work; individual effort shares are not measured.

• Pearson, On a form of spurious correlation
• Crossref record for Pearson 1897

Provisional WRS assessment, edition 2026-10-16.1. Independent expert calibration is pending. This grade does not certify correctness or assign ownership.

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