Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Correlation refers to a statistical relationship between two variables where changes in one variable are associated with changes in another variable. However, correlation does not imply causation.
Related terms
Scatterplot: A scatterplot is a graph that displays the relationship between two variables by plotting points on a coordinate plane.
Positive Correlation: Positive correlation occurs when both variables increase or decrease together.
Negative Correlation: Negative correlation happens when one variable increases while the other decreases.