Definition
Association
A relationship seen across many paired values of two variables.
What it means
Look across many pairs, not just one pair. When larger values of one variable usually come with larger values of the other, the association is positive. When they usually come with smaller values, it is negative.
Remember it
Paired values travelling in a pattern.
Example
A scatter plot pairs each learner’s height with arm span. If taller learners usually have larger arm spans, the data show a positive association.
Watch for
One matching pair is not enough. Association describes a pattern across a collection of paired values.
Common mix-up
Association does not by itself show that one variable caused the other to change.
Exact meaning
An association is a pattern across paired data showing that values of two variables tend to vary together. The pattern may be positive, negative, linear, nonlinear, weak, or absent.