Correlations Flashcards
What is a correlation
A statistical technique used by psychologists- involves measuring 2 variables
What is a positive correlation
Relationship between variables where as one increases the other increases
What is a negative correlation
Relationship between variables where as one increases the other decreases
What if there is no correlation
Said to be uncorrelated and have no relationship
How are correlations presented and measured
Displayed on a scatter graph
One variable arranged along the horizontal axis and the other on the vertical axis.
Axis should be fully operationlised and labelled
What if a number is close to 1 in a correlation co efficient
There is a strong positve correlation
(closer to 0.5 than 1 than weak positive)
What if a number is close to -1 in a correlation coefficient
There is a strong negative correlation ( closer to -0.5 than weak negative)
What is the number is close to 0
variables are uncorrelated
What are the rules for correlational hypothesis
One tailed- Must say if positve or negative and state the direction
Two-tailed- Say there will be a significant relationship/correlation but no direction stated
Null- Must include there will be no relationship/correlation
What is an example of a one tailed correlational hypothesis
There will be a positve correlation between a persons weight in kg and their level of extroversion as a person weight increases their level of extroversion also increases
What is an example of a two tailed correlational hypothesis
There will be a significant correlation between the amount of chocolate eaten and the level of happiness on a rating scale
What are the strengths of conducting a correlation
You can identify a relationship between 2 variables without having to manipulate behaviour- good as it can be used if impossible or unethical to manipulate in experiments
Can also be used to suggest future, further research usefullness so it enhances knowledge to make practical applications
What are the weaknesses of conducting correlations
Cannot establish cause and effect as correlations only show a relationship between co-variables so its less scientific and we need further research
Other unknown variables may cause the relationship between our co-variables being measured so this lowers internal validity because we dont have a full picture of which led to the relationship