Correlation

Question 1

Research questions

Answer 1

A broad question about the concept being investigated - e.g: ‘Are people happier when it’s sunny?’

Question 2

Research aims

Answer 2

Having identified the broad research question, the research aim is then identifying a more specific concept within this question which the researcher wants to investigate - RA can take a range of forms. ‘TO investigate whether there is a relationship between sunshine and happiness’ or ‘To investigate whether sunshine is a cause of happiness’

Question 3

Correlation study

Answer 3

If the aim was investigating a relationship - ‘To investigate whether energy levels are related to hours slept’

Question 4

Experiment (experimental study)

Answer 4

If the aim was investigating cause-and-effect - ‘To investigate the effects of chocolate consumption on levels of happiness’

Question 5

Operationalising variables

Answer 5

1. Any co-variable needs to be expressed as a number

2. Each participant must have two separate (ordinal level) numbers that relate to them - one for each co-variable

Question 6

Two-tailed correlational hypothesis

Answer 6

‘There will be a significant correlation between co-variables y and z’

Question 7

One-tailed correlational hypothesis

Answer 7

‘There will be a significant positive/negative correlation between co-variables y and z’

Question 8

Purpose of an inferential statistics test

Answer 8

Will enable researchers to calculate a correlation co-efficient somewhere between -1 and +1

Question 9

Positive correlation

Answer 9

A correlation that has a plus sign as part of its correlation co-efficient e.g: +0.58

Question 10

Negative correlation

Answer 10

A correlation that has a minus sign as part of its correlation co-efficient e.g: -0.72

Question 11

Strong correlation

Answer 11

The further from zero the correlation co-efficient is, the stronger it is

Question 12

Weak correlation

Answer 12

The closer to zero the correlation co-efficient is, the weaker it is

Question 13

Advantages of correlation studies (Give three)

Answer 13

• Can tell us not just whether two co-variables are related but also the strength and direction of their relationship
• useful technique to use when either practical or ethical reason mean variables cannot be manipulated
• good starting point for research because once relationships have been established between the co-variables, more research can be conducted to investigate them further e.g: experiments

Question 14

Disadvantages of correlation studies

Answer 14

• they do not tell us anything about cause-and-effect
• they do not require the collection of qualitative data
• inferential statistics test will not always pick up on a relationship between two co-variables