In business research, we often build up theories about what works and what doesn’t work based on evidence that’s correlated, but not causal. We pick an outcome — successful performance, say — and incorrectly identify what caused that outcome. This is a major flaw in our work, as my colleague Phil Rosenzweig has pointed out in his work on the “halo effect.”
On the Pitfalls of Superstitious Learning
In business research, we often build up theories about what works and what doesn’t work based on evidence that’s correlated, but not causal. We pick an outcome — successful performance, say — and incorrectly identify what caused that outcome. This is a major flaw in our work, as my colleague Phil Rosenzweig has pointed out […]
July 19, 2011
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New!
HBR Learning
Innovation and Creativity Course
Accelerate your career with Harvard ManageMentor®. HBR Learning’s online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Innovation and Creativity. Earn badges to share on LinkedIn and your resume. Access more than 40 courses trusted by Fortune 500 companies.
Unlock your team's curiosity and willingness to take smart risks.