Chapter 12

Question 1

What is the correlational research strategy?

Answer 1

when two or more variables are measures to obtain a set of scores (usually two scores) for EACH individual. The measurements are then examined to identify any patterns of relationship that exist between the variables and to measure the strength of the relationship.

Question 2

What is the purpose of the correlational research strategy?

Answer 2

establish and DESCRIBE a relationship between variables.

Question 3

What kind of study is very similar to correlational research? Explain what it is.

Answer 3

Differential reproach (non-experimental design). It establishes the existence of a relationship by demonstrating a difference between groups.

Question 4

What is a positive relationship?

Answer 4

tendency for two variables to change in the same direction; as one variable increases, the other also tends to increase.

Question 5

What is a negative relationship?

Answer 5

tendency for two variables to change in opposite directions; increases in one variable tend to be accompanied by decreases in the other.

Question 6

What is a monotonic relationship?

Answer 6

It’s when a relationship is consistently one-directional, either consistently positive or negative. The amount of increase need NOT be constantly the same size. Ex: practice and performance.

Question 7

What is a Spearman correlation?

Answer 7

used to measure and describe monotonic relationships when both variables are ranks from an ordinal score or have been transferred to ranks

Question 8

What is a correlation or a correlational coefficient?

Answer 8

Numerical value that measures and describes the relationship between two variables.

Question 9

What is the coefficient of determination?

Answer 9

the squared value of a correlation and measures the percentage of variability in one variable that is determined, or predicted, by its relationship with another variable.

Question 10

What is The Pearson correlation (r) coefficient?

Answer 10

It’s the statistic that indicates the degree to which two variables are related to one another in a linear fashion.

Question 11

Go over the table for the minimum r that is significant for participants

Answer 11

In docs

Question 12

When multiple correlations are used, the results are typically shown in a _______ _______

Answer 12

Correlation Matrix

Question 13

A correlation does NOT imply ______

Answer 13

Causality!!!

Question 14

What Three criteria must be satisfied to conclude that one variable causes another?

Answer 14

• Covariation.
• Directionality.
• Elimination of extraneous variables.

Question 15

What is covariation?

Answer 15

There is a correlation (association) between variables X and Y.

Question 16

What is directionality?

Answer 16

Variable X (the cause) precedes Variable Y (the effect).

Question 17

What is the elimination of extraneous variables?

Answer 17

No other variable may be responsible for the relationship between X and Y.

Question 18

What is illusory correlation? Give an example

Answer 18

A mistaken perception that two events are related when they are not. It is caused by a tendency to forget unremarkable counter-evidence.

Ex: Does a relationship exist between the moon phases and mental illness?

Question 19

What is the directionality problem?

Answer 19

Correlational studies DO NOT allow us to determine which variable is the cause and which variable is the effect.

Ex: Self-Esteem and School Achievement

Question 20

What is the third-variable problem?

Answer 20

Although a correlational study may establish that two variables are related, it does not necessarily mean that there is a direct relationship between them.

Question 21

What are linear regressions used for?

Answer 21

Another way of looking at the relation between two variables.
The best fitting linear function is estimated and then used to “explain” the changes in one variable using a second variable.

Question 22

What is the criterion?

Answer 22

The variable to be explained. (y) → “dependent variable”

Question 23

What is the predictor?

Answer 23

Predictor. The variable used to predict, to “explain”. (x) “independent variable”

Question 24

What does it mean to “explain variance”?

Answer 24

as one variable changes, we can predict changes to a certain extent in the other. The stronger the association between two variables, the better the prediction about the change in the other.

Question 25

r^2 is the _________?

Answer 25

measure of effect size for regressions.

Question 26

What is Multiple Regression?

Answer 26

Regressions allow for multiple predictors.

Example. Suppose you want to explain grades using both IQ and number of hours of study. (an additional predictor)