Correlation and Decision Making - Essay Example

“Positive correlation indicates that both variables increase or decrease together.” (Karthik, 2005). A negative correlation means that the changes in the variables are not uniform. In other words, when one variable increases the other decreases, and vice versa.

The correlation between different variable in different cases are analyzed here. This analysis basically relates to the internet subsidies in Public Schools. “Policymakers and analysts have argued that public schools are a natural place to teach underserved populations about computers and increase access to new technology.” (Goolsbee & Guryan, 2003).

Correlation between eligible students and available funding   

The correlation between variable A and variable B of the school lunch program can be seen first. Variable A is the number of students who are eligible for school lunch. Variable B is the amount of funding received by the school. Different types of correlation can occur between these two variables. A positive correlation between the two variables means that adequate funds are received by the school in order to provide lunch for the students at the school. This refers to the proper working of the system. A negative correlation between the two variables means that even though there are adequate numbers of students eligible for lunch, the schools don’t receive the necessary fund for providing the students with proper lunch. The third case is where the correlation between the two variables is minimal. This is rather a neutral case where the condition is that there are no eligible students and funds are not required by the schools.

Correlation between subsidy and age of students

There is a positive, negative, and neutral correlation between the subsidy and the age of students. Here variable A is the impact of subsidy and variable B is the age of students at school. A positive correlation between these two variables means that the subsidy received by the school contains the students who satisfy the eligibility age for it. A negative correlation between these two variables means that even though the schools receive subsidies it does not actually satisfy the age criteria for availing of the benefits. This means that the fund is directed not to the required area. Similarly, a minimal correlation means that the schools don’t satisfy the criteria only to a certain extent and so they are not able to avail the benefits of the subsidy.

Correlation between classrooms and student performance

The intention behind connecting classrooms with the latest internet facility is to ensure better performance of the students. In this case, variable A is the number of classrooms connected to the internet. Variable B is the performance of the students in the test conducted. The correlations between these two variables are very much relevant because the actual results of the spending are understood by this. A positive correlation means that the classrooms are connected with better internet facilities and the students are provided the most modern internet facilities in the classrooms and the performance level of the students is very higher on the test. This shows that the nation has benefited from investment in facilities. A negative correlation means the classrooms are connected to the internet and the students do not show sufficient improvement in their performance. This is a failure. A minimal correlation means that there are neither internet facilities nor better performance of students on the test.

Correlation between comfort level and ability of teachers

Variable A in this case is the comfort level of teachers with the internet. Variable B is the ability of the teachers to make effective use of the internet. A positive correlation between the variables means that the teachers are comfortable with the new internet facilities in the classrooms and they make effective use of the internet. A negative correlation means that teachers are comfortable with the new facilities but still, they are not making effective use of them. If it is negative the real objects cannot be said to be achieved. A minimal relation means that the teachers are not comfortable with the new facilities so they are not making effective use of them. This is also unfavorable for the contributor