0.13. Correlations Flashcards
What does a correlation show?
Correlation shows a relationship between two variables ( whether two things are linked)
-> good starting point in research to see if two things are related
What do correlations not show?
Causation -> cannot explain cause and effect
How are correlations represented?
On a scattergram/graph
Use crosses, not dots and don’t join up crosses
Which variables are not controlled?
Extraneous variables
What is a tailed directional hypothesis example?
there will be a positive correlation between height and shoe size
What is a tailed non-directional hypothesis example?
there will be a relationship between liking cheese and height
What is a linear relationship?
crosses almost always plotted in a line
What is a curvlinear relationship?
relationship is curved, usually predictable, such as inverted U
Strengths of correlation/scattergram
- allows us to see if 2 variables are related
- easily replicable
- no ethics
- a good starting point prior to further research
weaknesses of correlations/scattergram
- only shows a relationship
- does not show causation
- extraneous variables are not controlled