correlations

Question 1

What is a correlation?

Answer 1

A mathematical technique in which a researcher investigates an association between 2 variables

Question 2

What is a correlation coefficient?

Answer 2

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

Question 3

How is the relationship between variables shown?

Answer 3

They are plotted on a scattergram

Question 4

What does it mean if a correlation is more than 0.5 & -0.5?

Answer 4

It is a strong negative or a strong positive

Question 5

What are the strengths of correlations?

Answer 5

• provides a precise and quantifiable measure of how two variables are related
• can suggest ideas for future research if the variables are strongly correlated
• quick and economical to carry out
• secondary data can be used so it is less time-consuming

Question 6

What are the weaknesses of correlations?

Answer 6

• only tells us how variables are related and not why ( shows a link and not a cause and effect)
• 3rd variable problem - another untested variable is causing the relationship between 2 co-variables