What type of correlation occurs when two attributes are correlated to one another, and as the values in one attribute increase, the values in the other attribute decrease?

• A. Positive
• B. Causal
• C. No correlation
• D. Negative

Answer: (D)

Negative correlation is when two attributes move in opposite directions: as one value increases, the other tends to decrease. This inverse relationship is indicated by a negative correlation coefficient, with stronger relationships approaching -1 and weaker ones near 0. It’s different from a positive correlation, where both attributes rise together, and from no correlation, where there’s no consistent pattern between them. Remember that correlation does not imply causation; two variables can be inversely related without one causing the change in the other.