Freakonomics

How do the Freakonomics authors address the "correlation versus causation" issue? Do they pretend correlation IS causation? Do they prove that some correlation is causation, and if so, how? Or do they explicitly acknowledge the lack of proof of causation?

Freakonomics address’s correlation vs causation throughout the movie. They basically explained that once ones motives and incentives are noticed it is easier to find out who they are. This is showing the causation. One of the ways the authors of the book showed this were how names labeled people. One analyzer explained that the names do not determine your destiny but ones neighborhood and how they were raised does. Their incentives then lead them in the wrong direction or positive. 

What sources of evidence do the Freakonomics authors most rely on? Why is this innovative?

The authors of Freakonomics get the majority of their evidence from surveys, test, and experiments. They use these sources of evidence because they are the most accurate and they get a broad point of view. For example when they asked what are black names they got a broad perspective because they asked all types of people. Also when they sent out resumes with the same information besides the names the white names were 33% more likely to be called back. These sources of evidence showed the accuracy and broad perspective they receive from the sources of evidence.

Statement: Freakonomics serves as an inspiration and good example to our attempt to explore the "hidden-in-plain-sight" weirdness of dominant social practices.

I agree with this statement. I do agree because of the fact that the problems and things they addresses where things that ordinary people think about but do not take enough time to think about. People usually look at these things from one point of view but the film helped show that there are opposite points of view that are equally accurate. For example the “black” and “white” names are something that people don't may much attention to and don't believe is a big deal. This movie helped us look more into how something as simple as names can affect ones life.