A correlation is a way of expressing a relationship between two variables and, more specifically, how strongly pairs of data are related. We describe the correlation from data using language like positive correlation, negative correlation or no correlation. We can even further strengthen the language by using strong or weak.

Watch out!

Just because two variables correlate, even to a high degree, it does not imply that one causes the other. For example, there is a high degree of correlation between height and stride length. However, it doesn't mean that if you take big steps you'll grow taller!

Linear Patterns & Scatterplots

Linear patterns reveal whether or not two measurements are connected to each other. In other words, the presence of a linear pattern signals that the two sets of data correlate. One way of understanding these relationships is by plotting ordered pairs onto a scatterplot. This makes it easier to recognise patterns in the data, especially whether or not these patterns appear to be linear.

This linear relationship can be seen through close and consistent grouping in a scatterplot. The more closely the dots resemble a straight line, the stronger the correlation between the variables.

Positive Correlations

A positive correlation is when the data appears to gather in a positive relationship. Similar to a straight line with a positive gradient.

In other words, as one variable increases, the other variables also increases.

There are three types of positive correlation:

Perfect positive correlation, where it lines up on a straight line exactly.
Strong positive correlation, where it closely resembles a straight line with a positive gradient.
Weak positive correlation, where the relationship is still positive.

For example, the scatterplot below shows a strong positive correlation between a person's height and arm span. You can see that as the first variable increases, the second increases too.

Linear Scatter

http://www.learner.org/courses/learningmath/data/session7/part_c/using.html

Here is a table of positive style correlations

Negative Correlations

A negative correlation is when the data appears to gather in a negative relationship. Similar to a straight line with a negative gradient.

In other words, as one variable increases, the other one decreases.

Like positive correlation, there are three types of negative correlation:

Perfect negative correlation, where it lines up on a decreasing line perfectly
Strong negative correlation, where the data presents strongly in a negative direction
Weak negative correlation.

The next scatterplot shows a strong negative correlation. You can see that as the first variable increases, the second variable decreases.

Here is a table of negative style correlations

No Correlation

No correlation is when there is no relationship between the variables.

This means that there is a random or nonlinear relationship between the two sets of data.

Here is a diagram of no correlation

Examples

Question 1

Identify the type of correlation in the following scatter plot.

Think: If we drew a straight line through the points, what value would be close to the gradient?

Do: The correlation has a gradient close to $1$1, so this is a strong positive correlation.

Question 2

Consider the two variables: eye colour and IQ. Do you think there is a relationship between them?

Think: Do you think a person's eye colour has anything to do with their IQ?

Do: No there is no relationship between them?

Question 3

The following table shows the number of traffic accidents associated with a sample of drivers of different age groups.

Age	Accidents
$20$20	$41$41
$25$25	$44$44
$30$30	$39$39
$35$35	$34$34
$40$40	$30$30
$45$45	$25$25
$50$50	$22$22
$55$55	$18$18
$60$60	$19$19
$65$65	$17$17

Which of the following scatter plots correctly represents the above data?

A

B

C
Is the correlation between a person's age and the number of accidents they are involved in positive or negative?
Positive
A
Negative
B
Is the correlation between a person's age and the number of accidents they are involved in strong or weak?
Strong
A
Weak
B
Which age group's data represent an outlier?
30-year-olds
A
None of them
B
65-year-olds
C
20-year-olds
D

Question 4

Consider the table of values that show four excerpts from a database comparing the income per capita of a country and the child mortality rate of the country. If a scatter plot was created from the entire database, what relationship would you expect it to have?

Income per capita	Child Mortality rate
$1465$1465	$67$67
$11428$11428	$16$16
$2621$2621	$35$35
$32468$32468	$9$9

Strongly positive
A
No relationship
B
Strongly negative
C

EXTENSION

Further Information - Correlation Coefficient

As we have seen, a correlation is a way of expressing a relationship between two variables and, more specifically, how strongly pairs of data are related. We can measure this mathematically by looking at the correlation coefficient ($r$r). The correlation coefficient is a number between $-1$−1 and $+1$+1. It is similar to the gradient of a straight line and once the correlation coefficient is calculated, we can more accurately determine whether there is positive correlation, negative correlation or no correlation.