What is an association? a correlation? Is there a difference between these two words?
While writing my MPH thesis, I was immediately corrected for using the two interchangeably. I’d like to hear from my fellow upcoming and practicing occupational epidemiologists what you think about these two words and how you use them.
Looking forward to your comments!
Hello:) This one required a little bit of thought and a visit to the pages of Rosner’s. I think the difference is like the square and rectangle thing. Corrleation measures the strength of the association. Things can be associated but not correlated. However, if its correlated, it is associated. However, I did run across a quite a few places where they were listed as synonyms;) Any other opinions out there?
This is difficult to answer and confusing, too.
From the free dictionary website, the following are definitions for both:
1. association – a relation resulting from interaction or dependence
2. correlation – a mutual or reciprocal relationship between two or more things
By definition both are similar, and I’ve tried to differentiate the two but it is difficult. In statistics, there might be a difference but again I think they can be used interchangeably.
Then, the following article, http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/all-about-addiction/201003/correlation-causation-and-association-what-does-it-all-mean, it appears that both association and correlation are similar and used interchangeable.