ABSTRACT
Correlation is widely used in the social sciences. It is a way of comparing the levels of two variables, in order to get an idea of how they rise or fall together. It notoriously does not prove causation, but can provide useful evidence, and the basis for further investigation. Correlational analysis requires a person to find a numerical score for every participant on at least two variables. A strong correlation shows that two variables are consistently related, but cause and effect should not be assumed. A regression analysis is logically very similar to correlation. However, it has more subtlety as it includes multiple variables. This allows people to estimate not just how one variable relates to another, but also how it compares to other variables, giving them an overview of what the strongest associations are. Correlation is an essential tool for the teacher-researcher to know about.
