If one variable increases while another decreases, what type of correlation is present?

When one variable increases while another variable decreases, this indicates a negative correlation. In statistics, a correlation reflects the relationship between two variables, and a negative correlation specifically signifies that as one variable moves in one direction (increases), the other moves in the opposite direction (decreases).

This relationship is often visualized on a scatter plot, where the data points would slope downwards from left to right, illustrating that higher values of one variable are associated with lower values of another. This concept is important in psychology and other fields as it helps researchers understand how variables interact with each other, and it is crucial for predictive modeling and assessing relationships within data.

Understanding negative correlation allows researchers and students to interpret real-world data meaningfully, such as understanding that greater stress may correlate with lower performance levels, reflecting an inverse relationship.