What kind of relationship does correlation evaluate between variables?

Correlation evaluates the associational connections between variables, which means it examines how two or more variables move together or relate to one another. When a correlation is identified, it does not imply that one variable causes the other to change; instead, it simply indicates that there is a relationship between them, whether positive or negative.

In the context of correlation, the focus is on understanding patterns in data. For example, two variables may consistently rise and fall together, which shows a correlation, but it does not establish a cause-and-effect relationship. Instead, it emphasizes that as one variable changes, the other variable tends to change in a specific way, reinforcing the idea of association rather than causation.

Other options may touch upon related concepts but do not capture the essence of correlation as accurately. Causal relationships entail a direct cause-and-effect scenario, which is not what correlation confirms. Descriptive statistics summarize data, and predictive tendencies imply a level of forecasting based on past data, which goes beyond simple correlation to suggest prediction. Thus, focusing on associational connections is the most accurate description of what correlation evaluates between variables.