Word
correlation
Meanings
A statistical relationship showing the strength and direction of association between two variables.
A general connection or similarity between two things, where they seem to be related.
Definition
Correlation is a statistical measure that shows how strongly two variables change together.
Correlation describes the relationship between two variables, especially whether they tend to increase or decrease at the same time. It can be positive (they rise together), negative (one rises as the other falls), or near zero (no clear pattern). A strong correlation suggests a close association, but it does not prove that one variable causes the other.
Examples
- The researchers found a strong correlation between sleep quality and reaction time in their experiments.
- I noticed a clear correlation between my screen time and how restless I feel at night.
- The report highlights a correlation between air pollution and school absences, but it avoids claiming direct causation.
- They explored the correlation between team diversity and creative output across several industries.
Common mistake
Learners often confuse correlation with causation and write as if a correlation proves one thing causes the other.
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