In response to the question the distinction between relationship and causal relationship is that two factors may be correlated, but one does not necessarily cause the other. If explaining this correctly in order to recognize the difference between a positive correlation from the negative correlation. One example, most of us consider that there is a relationship between stress and susceptibility to colds, however, the more tension we are under the more likely we are to take hold of a cold. To come up with the data of this is to find out how much stress we are in and how many colds and respiratory problems we suffered in the same time frame, and come up with the correlation coefficient.