Correlations

Question 1

What is a correlation

Answer 1

Mathematical technique in which a researcher investigates an association between two co-variables plotted on a scattergram

Question 2

What is a positive correlation

Answer 2

As one co-variable increases so does the other

Question 3

What is a negative correlation

Answer 3

As one co-variable increases the other decreases

Question 4

What is zero correlation

Answer 4

When there is no relationship between the co-variables

Question 5

Why is it not possible to establish cause and effect between two co-variables

Answer 5

There is no manipulation of the independent variable to observe the effect on the dependent variable meaning the relationship between the two variables may be due to an intervening variable

Question 6

What are correlations plotted on

Answer 6

Scattergram

Question 7

Advantages of correlations

Answer 7

-useful preliminary research tool which can suggest ideas for future research
-quick and economical to carry out as no need for controlled environment
-secondary data can be used which is less time consuming than experiments

Question 8

Limitations of correlations

Answer 8

-cannot tell why co-variables are related
-cannot establish direction of effect as no cause and effect
-intervening variable may be causing relationship between the co-variables=correlations may be misused/misinterpreted

Question 9

What is the correlation coefficient

Answer 9

A number between -1 and +1 that represents the direction and strength of a relationship between co-variables

Question 10

What is a perfect positive correlation

Answer 10

+1.0

Question 11

What is a perfect negative correlation

Answer 11

-1.0