Key Stage 3
Meaning
A correlation is when two variables change together.
About Correlations
- Correlations may be positive, where one variable increases, the other variable increases.
- Correlations may be negative, where one variable increases, the other variable decreases.
- A correlation does not mean that one variable causes another. The number of of children diagnoses with autism has increased as the amount of organic food sold has increased. This does not mean that organic food causes autism or that autistic people prefer organic food. It is just a coincidence.
Examples
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| This scatter graph shows a positive correlation. |
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| This scatter graph shows a negative correlation. |
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| This scatter graph shows no correlation. |