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Evidence · Learning guide 46 of 216
Also called: Association
A statistical or observed relationship between variables. Correlation does not by itself establish that one variable caused the other.
Start with the context
Evidence terms help readers judge how a claim was produced, what uncertainty remains, and whether a conclusion reaches beyond the underlying study.
Correlation may also appear as Association. An alias can help with search and recognition, but it does not create a different scientific or legal meaning unless a source defines one.
“In this context, Correlation means: A statistical or observed relationship between variables. Correlation does not by itself establish that one variable caused the other.” The definition is kept separate from any claim about an individual outcome.
The goal is not memorizing jargon. It is knowing what a word lets you conclude—and where the conclusion must stop.
Anecdotes, surveys, observational studies, laboratory experiments, animal models, randomized trials, and systematic reviews answer different questions. Study design affects what can be inferred about association, causation, mechanism, or treatment.
Source quality is not a popularity contest. Useful evaluation looks at methods, comparison groups, sample size, outcome choice, missing data, conflicts, replication, and whether the studied preparation matches the claim being made.
Evidence grows through documented methods, transparent limitations, critical review, and replication—not the confidence of a headline.
Image: Esculab · CC0Interpretation boundary
The definition should make a claim clearer, not make it sound more certain than the evidence allows.
A peer-reviewed paper can still be limited, and a single study rarely settles a broad medical question. Statistical significance is not automatically clinical importance.
Community experience remains valuable for generating questions and documenting lived context, but it should stay labeled as self-report rather than being promoted as universal clinical evidence.
Correlation alone does not establish: identity beyond its documented scope, contaminant safety, a guaranteed experience, a medical benefit, a safe dose, or legal authorization.
Put the term to work
Source trail
These sources provide regulatory, scientific, public-health, or laboratory context. Their presence does not mean every sentence is a direct quotation or that a broad source proves a specific medical claim.
Editorial framework reviewed August 9, 2026. Maine requirements should always be verified before acting.
Educational information only. This learning page is not medical or legal advice and does not establish that a cannabis product is safe, effective, compliant, or appropriate for an individual.