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correlate
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Freakonomics
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But just because two things are correlated does not mean that one causes the other.†
p. 8.8 *

correlated = related such that a change in one thing helps predict a change in another

"Editor's Notes"

Just because you can guess 'A' from 'B' doesn’t mean 'A' changes 'B.' Something else, like 'C,' might affect both, and that’s why 'A' can be guessed from 'B.'

For example, children with larger shoe sizes are likely to know more math. It's not that shoe size helps with math, it's that older children tend to have larger feet and know more math.
A correlation simply means that a relationship exists between two factors—let's call them X and Y—but it tells you nothing about the direction of that relationship.†
p. 8.8

correlation = relationship such that a change in one thing helps predict a change in another

"Editor's Notes"

Just because you can guess 'A' from 'B' doesn’t mean 'A' changes 'B.' Something else, like 'C,' might affect both, and that’s why 'A' can be guessed from 'B.'

For example, children with larger shoe sizes are likely to know more math. It's not that shoe size helps with math, it's that older children tend to have larger feet and know more math.
It's possible that X causes Y; it's also possible that Y causes X; and it may be that X and Y are both being caused by some other factor, Z. Think about this correlation: cities with a lot of murders also tend to have a lot of police officers.†
p. 8.9
Consider now the police/murder correlation in a pair of real cities.†
p. 9.1
Three: up to this point in the test, the fifteen students' answers were virtually uncorrelated.†
p. 30.2

uncorrelated = not having a relationship whereby a change in one thing helps predict a change in another

standard prefix: The prefix "un-" in uncorrelated means not and reverses the meaning of correlated. This is the same pattern you see in words like unhappy, unknown, and unlucky.
The second is the absence of a correlation between lynchings and Klan membership: there were actually more lynchings of blacks between 1900 and 1909, when the Klan was dormant, than during the 1920s, when the Klan had millions of members—which suggests that the Ku Klux Klan carried out far fewer lynchings than is generally thought.†
p. 57.1

correlation = relationship such that a change in one thing helps predict a change in another

"Editor's Notes"

Just because you can guess 'A' from 'B' doesn’t mean 'A' changes 'B.' Something else, like 'C,' might affect both, and that’s why 'A' can be guessed from 'B.'

For example, children with larger shoe sizes are likely to know more math. It's not that shoe size helps with math, it's that older children tend to have larger feet and know more math.
An analysis of the language used in real-estate ads shows that certain words are powerfully correlated with the final sale price of a house.†
p. 70.9

correlated = related such that a change in one thing helps predict a change in another

"Editor's Notes"

Just because you can guess 'A' from 'B' doesn’t mean 'A' changes 'B.' Something else, like 'C,' might affect both, and that’s why 'A' can be guessed from 'B.'

For example, children with larger shoe sizes are likely to know more math. It's not that shoe size helps with math, it's that older children tend to have larger feet and know more math.
Five of them have a strong positive correlation to the ultimate sale price, and five have a strong negative correlation.†
p. 71.4

correlation = relationship such that a change in one thing helps predict a change in another

"Editor's Notes"

Just because you can guess 'A' from 'B' doesn’t mean 'A' changes 'B.' Something else, like 'C,' might affect both, and that’s why 'A' can be guessed from 'B.'

For example, children with larger shoe sizes are likely to know more math. It's not that shoe size helps with math, it's that older children tend to have larger feet and know more math.
Five of them have a strong positive correlation to the ultimate sale price, and five have a strong negative correlation.†
p. 71.5
FIVE TERMS CORRELATED TO A HIGHER SALE PRICE
Granite
State-of-the-Art†
p. 71.9

correlated = related such that a change in one thing helps predict a change in another

"Editor's Notes"

Just because you can guess 'A' from 'B' doesn’t mean 'A' changes 'B.' Something else, like 'C,' might affect both, and that’s why 'A' can be guessed from 'B.'

For example, children with larger shoe sizes are likely to know more math. It's not that shoe size helps with math, it's that older children tend to have larger feet and know more math.
FIVE TERMS CORRELATED TO A LOWER SALE PRICE
Fantastic
Spacious
Charming
Great Neighborhood†
p. 72.1
Three of the five terms correlated with a higher sale price are physical descriptions of the house itself: granite, Corian, and maple.†
p. 72.1
The "Moratorium" argument rests on a fundamental confusion of correlation and causality.†
p. 122.3

correlation = relationship such that a change in one thing helps predict a change in another

"Editor's Notes"

Just because you can guess 'A' from 'B' doesn’t mean 'A' changes 'B.' Something else, like 'C,' might affect both, and that’s why 'A' can be guessed from 'B.'

For example, children with larger shoe sizes are likely to know more math. It's not that shoe size helps with math, it's that older children tend to have larger feet and know more math.
He is intrigued by this correlation but, like the "Moratorium" author, fails to see the direction in which the correlation runs.†
p. 122.4
He is intrigued by this correlation but, like the "Moratorium" author, fails to see the direction in which the correlation runs.†
p. 122.4
So if you just look at raw correlations between police and crime, you will find that when there are more police, there tends to be more crime.†
p. 125.2

correlations = relationships such that a change in one thing helps predict a change in another

"Editor's Notes"

Just because you can guess 'A' from 'B' doesn’t mean 'A' changes 'B.' Something else, like 'C,' might affect both, and that’s why 'A' can be guessed from 'B.'

For example, children with larger shoe sizes are likely to know more math. It's not that shoe size helps with math, it's that older children tend to have larger feet and know more math.
Perhaps abortion and crime are merely correlated and not causal.†
p. 140.3

correlated = related such that a change in one thing helps predict a change in another

"Editor's Notes"

Just because you can guess 'A' from 'B' doesn’t mean 'A' changes 'B.' Something else, like 'C,' might affect both, and that’s why 'A' can be guessed from 'B.'

For example, children with larger shoe sizes are likely to know more math. It's not that shoe size helps with math, it's that older children tend to have larger feet and know more math.
How, then, can we tell if the abortion-crime link is a case of causality rather than simply correlation?†
p. 140.8

correlation = relationship such that a change in one thing helps predict a change in another

"Editor's Notes"

Just because you can guess 'A' from 'B' doesn’t mean 'A' changes 'B.' Something else, like 'C,' might affect both, and that’s why 'A' can be guessed from 'B.'

For example, children with larger shoe sizes are likely to know more math. It's not that shoe size helps with math, it's that older children tend to have larger feet and know more math.
One factor to look for would be a correlation between each state's abortion rate and its crime rate.†
p. 141.3
This correlation exists even when controlling for a variety of factors that influence crime: a state's level of incarceration, number of police, and its economic situation.†
p. 141.4
There are even more correlations, positive and negative, that shore up the abortion-crime link.†
p. 141.9

correlations = relationships such that a change in one thing helps predict a change in another

"Editor's Notes"

Just because you can guess 'A' from 'B' doesn’t mean 'A' changes 'B.' Something else, like 'C,' might affect both, and that’s why 'A' can be guessed from 'B.'

For example, children with larger shoe sizes are likely to know more math. It's not that shoe size helps with math, it's that older children tend to have larger feet and know more math.
But how then to explain another famous study, the Colorado Adoption Project, which followed the lives of 245 babies put up for adoption and found virtually no correlation between the child's personality traits and those of his adopted parents?†
p. 155.1

correlation = relationship such that a change in one thing helps predict a change in another

"Editor's Notes"

Just because you can guess 'A' from 'B' doesn’t mean 'A' changes 'B.' Something else, like 'C,' might affect both, and that’s why 'A' can be guessed from 'B.'

For example, children with larger shoe sizes are likely to know more math. It's not that shoe size helps with math, it's that older children tend to have larger feet and know more math.
It is a powerful—if limited—tool that uses statistical techniques to identify otherwise elusive correlations.†
p. 163.4

correlations = relationships such that a change in one thing helps predict a change in another

"Editor's Notes"

Just because you can guess 'A' from 'B' doesn’t mean 'A' changes 'B.' Something else, like 'C,' might affect both, and that’s why 'A' can be guessed from 'B.'

For example, children with larger shoe sizes are likely to know more math. It's not that shoe size helps with math, it's that older children tend to have larger feet and know more math.
Correlation is nothing more than a statistical term that indicates whether two variables move together.†
p. 163.4

correlation = relationship such that a change in one thing helps predict a change in another

"Editor's Notes"

Just because you can guess 'A' from 'B' doesn’t mean 'A' changes 'B.' Something else, like 'C,' might affect both, and that’s why 'A' can be guessed from 'B.'

For example, children with larger shoe sizes are likely to know more math. It's not that shoe size helps with math, it's that older children tend to have larger feet and know more math.
It tends to be cold outside when it snows; those two factors are positively correlated.†
p. 163.5

correlated = related such that a change in one thing helps predict a change in another

"Editor's Notes"

Just because you can guess 'A' from 'B' doesn’t mean 'A' changes 'B.' Something else, like 'C,' might affect both, and that’s why 'A' can be guessed from 'B.'

For example, children with larger shoe sizes are likely to know more math. It's not that shoe size helps with math, it's that older children tend to have larger feet and know more math.
Sunshine and rain, meanwhile, are negatively correlated.†
p. 163.5
From this jumble, he must determine which factors are correlated and which are not.†
p. 164.1
The difference between the first and second questions is the difference between causality (question 1) and correlation (question 2).†
p. 164.9

correlation = relationship such that a change in one thing helps predict a change in another

"Editor's Notes"

Just because you can guess 'A' from 'B' doesn’t mean 'A' changes 'B.' Something else, like 'C,' might affect both, and that’s why 'A' can be guessed from 'B.'

For example, children with larger shoe sizes are likely to know more math. It's not that shoe size helps with math, it's that older children tend to have larger feet and know more math.
A regression analysis can demonstrate correlation, but it doesn't prove cause.†
p. 164.9
After all, there are several ways in which two variables can be correlated.†
p. 164.9

correlated = related such that a change in one thing helps predict a change in another

"Editor's Notes"

Just because you can guess 'A' from 'B' doesn’t mean 'A' changes 'B.' Something else, like 'C,' might affect both, and that’s why 'A' can be guessed from 'B.'

For example, children with larger shoe sizes are likely to know more math. It's not that shoe size helps with math, it's that older children tend to have larger feet and know more math.
So those factors are correlated, and that's nice to know.†
p. 165.2
But higher test scores are correlated with many other factors as well.†
p. 165.2
But a skilled practitioner can use it to tell how meaningful a correlation is—and maybe even tell whether that correlation does indicate a causal relationship.†
p. 165.6

correlation = relationship such that a change in one thing helps predict a change in another

"Editor's Notes"

Just because you can guess 'A' from 'B' doesn’t mean 'A' changes 'B.' Something else, like 'C,' might affect both, and that’s why 'A' can be guessed from 'B.'

For example, children with larger shoe sizes are likely to know more math. It's not that shoe size helps with math, it's that older children tend to have larger feet and know more math.
But a skilled practitioner can use it to tell how meaningful a correlation is—and maybe even tell whether that correlation does indicate a causal relationship.†
p. 165.6
The wide-ranging ECLS data offer a number of compelling correlations between a child's personal circumstances and his school performance.†
p. 168.1

correlations = relationships such that a change in one thing helps predict a change in another

"Editor's Notes"

Just because you can guess 'A' from 'B' doesn’t mean 'A' changes 'B.' Something else, like 'C,' might affect both, and that’s why 'A' can be guessed from 'B.'

For example, children with larger shoe sizes are likely to know more math. It's not that shoe size helps with math, it's that older children tend to have larger feet and know more math.
According to the ECLS data, eight of the factors show a strong correlation—positive or negative—with test scores.†
p. 168.6

correlation = relationship such that a change in one thing helps predict a change in another

"Editor's Notes"

Just because you can guess 'A' from 'B' doesn’t mean 'A' changes 'B.' Something else, like 'C,' might affect both, and that’s why 'A' can be guessed from 'B.'

For example, children with larger shoe sizes are likely to know more math. It's not that shoe size helps with math, it's that older children tend to have larger feet and know more math.
Here now are the eight factors that are strongly correlated with test scores: The child has highly educated parents.†
p. 169.5

correlated = related such that a change in one thing helps predict a change in another

"Editor's Notes"

Just because you can guess 'A' from 'B' doesn’t mean 'A' changes 'B.' Something else, like 'C,' might affect both, and that’s why 'A' can be guessed from 'B.'

For example, children with larger shoe sizes are likely to know more math. It's not that shoe size helps with math, it's that older children tend to have larger feet and know more math.
A high socioeconomic status is strongly correlated to higher test scores, which seems sensible.†
p. 170.9
Obsessive parents might find this lack of correlation bothersome—what was the point of all those Mommy and Me classes?†
p. 171.9

correlation = relationship such that a change in one thing helps predict a change in another

"Editor's Notes"

Just because you can guess 'A' from 'B' doesn’t mean 'A' changes 'B.' Something else, like 'C,' might affect both, and that’s why 'A' can be guessed from 'B.'

For example, children with larger shoe sizes are likely to know more math. It's not that shoe size helps with math, it's that older children tend to have larger feet and know more math.
This correlation is further supported by the performance of Hispanic students in the ECLS study.†
p. 173.1
Culture cramming may be a foundational belief of obsessive parenting, but the ECLS data show no correlation between museum visits and test scores.†
p. 173.4
There is a strong correlation—a negative one—between adoption and school test scores.†
p. 173.5
The ECLS data show no correlation, meanwhile, between a child's test scores and the amount of television he watches.†
p. 174.7
Nor, however, does using a computer at home turn a child into Einstein: the ECLS data show no correlation between computer use and school test scores.†
p. 174.9
Let's start with the positive correlation: books in the home equal higher test scores.†
p. 175.3
Most people would look at this correlation and infer an obvious cause-and-effect relationship.†
p. 175.4
After all, the ECLS data don't say that books in the house cause high test scores; it says only that the two are correlated.†
p. 176.5

correlated = related such that a change in one thing helps predict a change in another

"Editor's Notes"

Just because you can guess 'A' from 'B' doesn’t mean 'A' changes 'B.' Something else, like 'C,' might affect both, and that’s why 'A' can be guessed from 'B.'

For example, children with larger shoe sizes are likely to know more math. It's not that shoe size helps with math, it's that older children tend to have larger feet and know more math.
How should this correlation be interpreted?†
p. 176.5

correlation = relationship such that a change in one thing helps predict a change in another

"Editor's Notes"

Just because you can guess 'A' from 'B' doesn’t mean 'A' changes 'B.' Something else, like 'C,' might affect both, and that’s why 'A' can be guessed from 'B.'

For example, children with larger shoe sizes are likely to know more math. It's not that shoe size helps with math, it's that older children tend to have larger feet and know more math.
Consider again the eight ECLS factors that are correlated with school test scores: The child has highly educated parents.†
p. 176.9

correlated = related such that a change in one thing helps predict a change in another

"Editor's Notes"

Just because you can guess 'A' from 'B' doesn’t mean 'A' changes 'B.' Something else, like 'C,' might affect both, and that’s why 'A' can be guessed from 'B.'

For example, children with larger shoe sizes are likely to know more math. It's not that shoe size helps with math, it's that older children tend to have larger feet and know more math.
Among the most interesting revelations in the data is the correlation between a baby's name and the parents' socioeconomic status.†
p. 193.7

correlation = relationship such that a change in one thing helps predict a change in another

"Editor's Notes"

Just because you can guess 'A' from 'B' doesn’t mean 'A' changes 'B.' Something else, like 'C,' might affect both, and that’s why 'A' can be guessed from 'B.'

For example, children with larger shoe sizes are likely to know more math. It's not that shoe size helps with math, it's that older children tend to have larger feet and know more math.

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Definitions:

(1) (correlate)
to find or have a connection or relationship between two things, such that a change in one helps predict a change in the other

Just because you can guess 'A' from 'B' doesn’t mean 'A' changes 'B.' Something else, like 'C,' might affect both, and that’s why 'A' can be guessed from 'B.'

For example, children with larger shoe sizes are likely to know more math. It's not that shoe size helps with math, it's that older children tend to have larger feet and know more math.
(2) (meaning too rare to warrant focus)

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