\Correlations & Causal Relationships

Question 1

Correlation is

Answer 1

Correlation is an association or relationship between variables

Question 2

Causation

Answer 2

occurs when one variable has an influence or is influenced by another

Question 3

gnising Correlations and Causal Relationships
Scientists present their findings from experiments in graphical and numerical forms to identify if there are relationships between risk factors and certain disease
Scatter diagrams are used to identify correlations between two variables to determine if a factor (such as obesity) does increase the risk of developing a disease (such as type 2 diabetes)
In this example, BMI would be on the x-axis and Incidence of Type 2 Diabetes on the y-axis

It is important to note that not everyone with a high BMI will develop Type 2 Diabetes, however more people with a high BMI will develop Type 2 Diabetes than those with low BMI
Correlation can be positive or negative

Positive correlation: as variable A increases, variable B increases

Negative correlation: as variable A increases, variable B decreases
If there is no correlation between variables the correlation coefficient will be 0