The sign of the correlation coefficient (+ or -) defines the direction of the relationship, either positive or negative. A positive correlation coefficient means that as the value of one variable increases, the value of the other variable increases; and as one decreases the other decreases. A negative correlation coefficient indicates that as one variable increases, the other decreases, and vice-versa. How to remember it: If two people are riding a roller coaster, they go up together and down together. But if they are riding a see-saw (teeter-totter) one goes up when the other goes down, and vice-versa. For positive correlation, think of two people riding a roller coaster. For a negative correlation, think of two people riding a see-saw (teeter-totter). :) Edwin