Relationship vs. Correlation — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 12, 2023
"Relationship" broadly defines a connection or association between elements, while "Correlation" specifically denotes a statistical measure expressing the extent to which two variables change together.
Difference Between Relationship and Correlation
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
In common parlance, a relationship is generally understood to signify a connection or bond between two or more entities, which can be of varying nature and intensity. A relationship can be professional, emotional, biological, or based on numerous other factors and does not denote any particular pattern or directionality. Meanwhile, correlation implies a specific kind of relationship between two variables in a statistical context, wherein a change in one variable is associated with a change in another.
Relationship casts a wide net in its application, comfortably fitting into various contexts such as social, mathematical, scientific, and more, signaling some manner of linkage or connection. Correlation, on the other hand, is surgically precise in its implication, primarily tethered to statistical and research-related realms, indicating a measured, quantifiable relationship between two numeric variables, which can be positive, negative, or nonexistent (zero).
An intriguing aspect of relationship lies in its ability to be intangible and abstract, as it can speak to emotional or conceptual connections that do not adhere to strict, measurable criteria. Conversely, correlation is rigorously tangible and is expressed numerically, most commonly between -1 (perfect negative correlation) and +1 (perfect positive correlation), with 0 symbolizing no correlation, providing a clear, measurable expression of the relationship between variables.
When it comes to casual or non-technical communication, “relationship” is the term that finds more utility and versatility, being apt in discussions ranging from human interactions to explaining phenomena in nature. On the contrary, correlation needs a backdrop of data and numbers, as it is essentially mathematical in nature, applied in fields like statistics, finance, and research, signifying a specific, measured, and quantifiable association between variables.
Relationship, without any qualifiers, doesn’t imply a causational aspect between the entities involved; they may be related in an incidental, conditional, or causal manner. In contrast, correlation specifically avoids implying causation; even if two variables move in tandem, it doesn’t establish that one causes the other, emphasizing the principle "correlation does not imply causation."
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A connection between entities
A statistical measure of association
Application
Broad and versatile
Primarily statistical and research
Quantifiability
Can be tangible or intangible
Always quantifiable
Implication of Causation
Can imply causation
Does not imply causation
Numerical Expression
Not expressed numerically
Expressed numerically
Compare with Definitions
Relationship
A kinship tie through blood or marriage.
Their relationship as cousins made them close.
Correlation
Coincidence of occurring events or circumstances.
There was a correlation between economic growth and job creation.
Relationship
A connection between two or more entities.
The relationship between diet and health is complex.
Correlation
A synchronous movement shared among related entities.
There is a correlation in the tides and lunar cycle.
Relationship
A romantic or emotional connection between people.
Their relationship lasted for two years.
Correlation
An interdependence of variable quantities.
Correlation between height and weight was observed in the study.
Relationship
A state of affairs existing between those having relations.
The U.S. has a special relationship with the U.K.
Correlation
A statistical measure of association between variables.
The correlation between smoking and lung disease is strong.
Relationship
Interaction or interdependence between things.
The relationship between supply and demand influences prices.
Correlation
In statistics, correlation or dependence is any statistical relationship, whether causal or not, between two random variables or bivariate data. In the broadest sense correlation is any statistical association, though it commonly refers to the degree to which a pair of variables are linearly related.
Relationship
The condition or fact of being related; connection or association.
Correlation
A relationship or connection between two things based on co-occurrence or pattern of change
A correlation between drug abuse and crime.
Relationship
Connection by blood or marriage; kinship.
Correlation
(Statistics) The tendency for two values or variables to change together, in either the same or opposite way
As cigarette smoking increases, so does the incidence of lung cancer, indicating a positive correlation.
Relationship
A particular type of connection existing between people related to or having dealings with each other
Has a close relationship with his siblings.
Correlation
An act of correlating or the condition of being correlated.
Relationship
A romantic or sexual involvement.
Correlation
A reciprocal, parallel or complementary relationship between two or more comparable objects.
Relationship
Connection or association; the condition of being related.
Correlation
(statistics) One of the several measures of the linear statistical relationship between two random variables, indicating both the strength and direction of the relationship.
Relationship
(mathematics) The links between the x-values and y-values of ordered pairs of numbers especially coordinates.
Correlation
(algebra) An isomorphism from a projective space to the dual of a projective space, often to the dual of itself.
Relationship
Kinship; being related by blood or marriage.
Correlation
Reciprocal relation; corresponding similarity or parallelism of relation or law; capacity of being converted into, or of giving place to, one another, under certain conditions; as, the correlation of forces, or of zymotic diseases.
Relationship
A romantic or sexual involvement.
They have been in a relationship for ten years, but have never married.
Correlation
A reciprocal relation between two or more things
Relationship
A way in which two or more people behave and are involved with each other
I have a good working relationship with my boss.
Correlation
A statistic representing how closely two variables co-vary; it can vary from -1 (perfect negative correlation) through 0 (no correlation) to +1 (perfect positive correlation);
What is the correlation between those two variables?
Relationship
(music) The level or degree of affinity between keys, chords and tones.
Correlation
A statistical relation between two or more variables such that systematic changes in the value of one variable are accompanied by systematic changes in the other
Relationship
The state of being related by kindred, affinity, or other alliance.
Correlation
A mutual relationship or connection.
The correlation between the two datasets was evident.
Relationship
A relation between people; (`relationship' is often used where `relation' would serve, as in `the relationship between inflation and unemployment', but the preferred usage of `relationship' is for human relations or states of relatedness);
The relationship between mothers and their children
Relationship
A state of connectedness between people (especially an emotional connection);
He didn't want his wife to know of the relationship
Relationship
A state involving mutual dealings between people or parties or countries
Relationship
State of relatedness or connection by blood or marriage or adoption
Common Curiosities
How does correlation differ from causation?
Correlation identifies association between variables, not causation.
What is a basic definition of a relationship?
A relationship denotes a connection or association between two or more entities.
Can a correlation be negative?
Yes, a negative correlation indicates an inverse relationship between variables.
Is correlation always expressed numerically?
Yes, correlation is typically expressed as a numerical coefficient.
Can “relationship” refer to familial connections?
Yes, a relationship can refer to connections through blood or marriage.
Is a relationship necessarily mutual?
No, relationships can be one-sided or mutual.
Can two unrelated variables have a correlation?
Yes, unrelated variables can show correlation, but it might be spurious.
Can a relationship exist without direct interaction?
Yes, relationships can denote indirect or conceptual connections.
Is a correlation of 0 significant?
A correlation of 0 indicates no linear relationship between variables.
Can a relationship be purely emotional?
Yes, relationships can be emotional, social, professional, etc.
How is correlation measured?
Correlation is often measured using Pearson's correlation coefficient.
Is the term “relationship” applicable in mathematics?
Yes, it can denote a connection or operation involving mathematical entities.
Does a relationship always involve people?
No, relationship can also refer to connections between non-human entities.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
