what is a correlation?

Answer 1

The correlation is one of the most common and most useful statistics. A correlation is a single number that describes the degree of relationship between two variables. [1]

Correlation implies causation, also known as *** hoc ergo propter hoc (Latin for "with this, therefore because of this") and false cause, is a logical fallacy by which two events that occur together are claimed to be cause and effect. [2]

Answer 2

A correlation is the mathematical relationship between two variables (e.g. job performance and job satisfaction, amount of time spent studying for an exam and a test score).

The index used to describe a correlation is called a "correlation coefficient." There is a mathematical formula you can look up to calculate the coefficient (Pearson's is one name). By definition, the correlation coefficient is a number between negative 1 and 1. A coefficent of 1 means that there is a perfect relationship between the variables meaning if you plotted the numbers on a graph they would be the same points on a line. The closer the number is to negative 1 or 1, the stronger the relationship. For example, the relationship between the amount of time studying and exam scores may be stronger than classroom attendance and the exam score, but they are both related.

Negative relationships are those that are related in an opposite direction. As one goes up the other goes down like the amount of sleep you got compared to how tired you feel.

An important thing to remeber is that correlation is not proof of causation, two variables can be strongly correlated because there are underlying reasons common to both but they can be completely independent of each other. A common example is gender and income, women typically earn less than male counterparts, but this is due to factors other than biology.

Answer 3

Look at all the people of a village as an example.
Measure all of them: their length and their weight.
Is there a correlation or a connection between their length and their weight?
To answer it, make a graph with a weight-axis and a length-axis.
If many point are at a straight line then the correlation is strong.
If you find a 'cloud' of points without any relation, then there is no or hardly any correlation.

Answer 4

"1 : the state or relation of being correlated; specifically : a relation existing between phenomena or things or between mathematical or statistical variables which tend to vary, be associated, or occur together in a way not expected on the basis of chance alone "

Answer 5

correlation is degree to which two factors are related to each other; but it does not represents 'causation' relationship between the 2 factors- this means- if x increases y increase but NOT increase in y LEADS TO OR CAUSE increase in x or vice-a-verse

Answer 6

relationship or connection. act or process of correlating.

Answer 7

A follow-up (or additional facts) to a previous theorem. I remember how Geometry had a lot of correlaries.

Answer 8

Relatedness of Variables: the degree to which two or more variables are related and change together.

Answer 9

it's a relationship between two things, but it doesn't explain why the relationship exists

Answer 10

a relationship