Correlational Studies

Question 1

What is a correlational study?

Answer 1

a statistical technique used to measure the strength and direction of the relationship between two co-variables.

Question 2

What is the range of correlational study(correlation coefficient) ?

Answer 2

• 1 to + 1 (-/+ 0.5 is considered a strong correlation)

Question 3

What is a positive correlation?

Answer 3

high/low values of one variables are associated with high/low values of the others

Question 4

What is a negative correlation?

Answer 4

high values on one variable but low on the other

Question 5

The (higher/lower) the number, the stronger the relationship

Answer 5

higher

Question 6

What is directional hypothesis?

Answer 6

this predicts that there will be a correlation between 2 sets of scores and must say if it is either - or +

Question 7

What is a non-directional hypothesis?

Answer 7

this predicts that there will be 2 set of score but doesn’t say any more than that

Question 8

What is a null hypothesis?

Answer 8

this predicts that there will not be a correlation between 2 sets of scores

Question 9

What are the strengths of strengths of correlational studies?

Answer 9

• high level of control
• can be used to see the type and strength of relationship between two variables
• correlational studies may show where more experimental cause and effect studies are needed

Question 10

What are the weaknesses of strengths of correlational studies?

Answer 10

• lacks ecological validity and mundane realism

- establishes relationships only not cause and effect