Clustering illusion

What it is

Seeing meaningful streaks, clusters or patterns in random data.

Example Spotting "hot" and "cold" zones in a purely random scatter of points.

Correlation implies causation fallacy
Random clusters in data produce correlations that look causal.
Narrative fallacy bias
Both create order from randomness: stories link events, clustering links data points.
Apophenia bias
Both find patterns in randomness; the clustering illusion does it for data, apophenia for any stimuli.
Coincidences and unlikely events bias
Seemingly impossible streaks and coincidences are bound to occur by chance.
Hot-hand fallacy fallacy
Streaks occur naturally in random sequences, and we read them as meaningful.
Law of small numbers bias
Small samples naturally contain streaks and clusters that look meaningful.
Texas sharpshooter fallacy fallacy
The sharpshooter fallacy treats an accidental cluster as significant, which is the clustering illusion.