Consider the paired values of two attributes, X and Y, shown below. This is an example of:

• A. Negative Correlation
• B. Positive Correlation
• C. No Correlation
• D. Causal Relationship

Answer: (B)

Correlation describes how two attributes move together. When higher values of X tend to go with higher values of Y, and lower X tends to go with lower Y, that shows a positive correlation. In the paired values, as X increases, Y also tends to increase, indicating a positive association between the two attributes. This differs from a negative correlation, where Y would tend to decrease as X increases, or from no correlation, where there’s no clear pattern. Remember, even with a positive correlation, you can’t say X causes Y; the relationship could be due to another factor or coincidence.