7. RESEARCH METHODS (Correlations) Flashcards
What is the aim of correlational analysis?
Correlational analysis aims to discover whether there is an association or relationship between two variables (known as co-variables), and it assesses the direction and strength of this relationship.
What is a positive correlation?
A positive correlation occurs when one variable increases and the other also increases. Example: The more hours studied, the higher the grade achieved.
What is a negative correlation?
A negative correlation occurs when one variable increases and the other decreases. Example: The more beers consumed, the lower the grade achieved.
What is a zero correlation?
A zero correlation means there is no relationship between the two variables. Example: Toe size and test scores.
When asked to describe a scattergram, what details should you include?
Include:
* The strength of the correlation (strong/weak)
* The direction of the correlation (positive/negative)
* A description of the pattern of each variable (e.g., longer treatment = lower depression score)
What is a correlation coefficient?
A correlation coefficient is a statistic that reflects the degree to which two sets of scores are related, indicating the direction and strength of the relationship.
What is the range of correlation coefficients?
Correlation coefficients range from -1 to +1:
* 0 = no correlation
* +1 = perfect positive correlation
* -1 = perfect negative correlation
What does a correlation coefficient of 0.6 indicate?
A correlation coefficient of 0.6 indicates a moderate positive correlation between the two variables.
What does a correlation coefficient of -0.7 indicate?
A correlation coefficient of -0.7 indicates a strong negative correlation, meaning as one variable increases, the other decreases.
What are the strengths of using correlational analysis?
- Suggests trends: Correlations can suggest trends that lead to experimental research.
- Useful when unethical/ impossible: Correlations can study relationships between naturally occurring variables where experiments cannot be conducted.
- High ecological validity: Correlations are often based on real-life data, which gives them high ecological validity.
How can correlational analysis help in areas where experiments would be unethical?
Correlations can be used to explore relationships between variables in situations where experiments would be unethical, such as the impact of daycare hours on aggressiveness.
What is a limitation of correlational analysis?
Correlations do not establish cause and effect, meaning they cannot determine whether one variable causes the other. This limits the conclusions that can be drawn.
Why can’t correlations establish cause and effect?
Correlations only measure the degree of relationship between two variables, but they do not prove that one variable causes the other. External factors or third variables might be involved.
How is the strength of a correlation determined?
The strength of a correlation is determined by how close the correlation coefficient is to 1 or -1. A coefficient near 1/-1 indicates a strong relationship, while a coefficient closer to 0 indicates a weak relationship.
