Correlational Studies Flashcards
What are correlational studies?
An systematic association between two continuous variables
What is a positive correlation
Where the variables increase together
What is a negative correlation?
Where one variable increases and the other decreases
What is a correlational hypothesis
The expected association between the co variables
How is a correlation illustrated?
A scatter gram
What is a correlation coefficient
A number between -1 and +1 that tells us how closely the co variables in a correlational analysis are associated
What is a curvilinear correlation
A non linear relationship between co variables
What is a linear correlation
A systematic relationship between xo variables that is defined by a straight line
What is a continuous variable?
A variable that can take on any value within a certain range
Advantages of correlational studies
Have their own special value
Used to investigate trends in data
If correlation is significant then further investigation is justified
Disadvantages of correlational studies
Jump to causal conclusions
Intervening variables, can explain why co variables that are being studied are linked
May lack internal/ external validity, may lack validity in the sample or generalisability
What is the difference between correlations and experiments
Experiment= deliberately change the indecent variable to observe the dependent variable
Correlation = casual conclusions are made
