Browse the glossary:

A    B    C    D    E    F    G    H    I    J    K    L   
M    N    O    P    Q    R    S    T    U    V    W    X    Y    Z

association

— A relationship between two variables in a study, e.g. between having received a particular treatment and having experienced a particular outcome.


Synonyms:

relationship, correlation

Full explanation:

The presence of an association does not necessarily imply a causal relationship.

Observing a simple association between two variables - for example, having received a particular treatment, and having experienced a particular outcome - cannot be assumed to mean that the treatment was necessarily responsible for the outcome. The association may reflect the effects of biases from confounder.

Cartoon:

Image from XKCD.

Example:

For example, people who seek and receive a treatment may be healthier and have better living conditions than people who do not seek and receive a treatment, so the former have better outcomes for those reasons, rather than because of the treatment.

See also:

causation

Still don't get it?

If you feel that this definition hasn't helped you to understand the term, click on our monkey to let us know.



← applicability attrition bias →