Chapter 8: Bivariate Correlational Research

Question 1

Bivariate Correlation

Answer 1

An association that involves 2 variables
aka. Bivariate Association

Question 2

Categorical Variable

Answer 2

falls to one category or another

Question 3

Mean

Answer 3

the average; a measure of central tendency

Question 4

What do effect sizes indicate?

Answer 4

the importance of a result

“when all else is equal a larger effect size is more important than a small one”

Question 5

Confidence internals in larger estimates

Answer 5

larger estimates provide smaller and more precise confidence intervals

Question 6

Statistically significant interval

Answer 6

p < 0.05, unlikely that the result emerged by chance or by the null hypothesis

Question 7

Confidence interval containing zero

Answer 7

can’t rule out that the association is zero, common to say “the association is not statistically significant”

Question 8

Outlier

Answer 8

Score that’s much higher or lower than rest of sample, causes disproportionate influence when scores are extreme on both variables

Question 9

Restriction of Range

Answer 9

In a bivariate correlation, the absence of a full range of possible scores on one of the variables, so the relationship from the sample underestimates the true correlation

Question 10

Curvilinear Association

Answer 10

an association between two variables that isn’t a strait line (U or inverted U shape)

Question 11

Covariance of Cause and Effect

Answer 11

the results must show a correlation or association between the cause and the effect variable(establishing causation)

Question 12

Temporal Precedence

Answer 12

• the method must insure that the cause variable preceded the effect variable (establishing causation)

Question 13

Internal Validity

Answer 13

No other explanations between the two variables (establishing causation)

Question 14

Directionality Problem

Answer 14

in a correlational study, both variable are measured around the same time thus making it unclear which variable in association came first (think temporal precedence)

Question 15

Third Variable Problem

Answer 15

in a correlational study, the existence of a plausible alternative explanation for the association between two variables (think internal validity)

Question 16

Spurious Association

Answer 16

a bivariate association that attributable only to systemic mean differences on subgroups within the sample; the original association is not present within subgroups

Question 17

Moderator

Answer 17

a variable that changes the relationship between two other variables depending on its variables