Correlations Flashcards
What is a correlation?
Correlations look at the relationship between variables. Variables are not manipulated so they are called co-variables rather than IV and DV.
How are correlations different to an experiment?
Correlations are the relationship whereas experiments are the difference using IV and DV.
What is a positive correlation?
The points lie close to a straight line with a positive gradient. As one variable increases, the other variable increases.
What is a negative correlation?
The points lie close to a straight line with a negative gradient. As one variable increases, the other decreases.
What is no correlation?
There is no pattern. There is no connection between the two variables.
What is the correlation coefficient?
A quantifiable figure, calculated from a statistical test that determines the strength and direction of a relationship on a scale of -1 to 1.
What do the correlation coefficient results show?
+1 = very strong positive correlation
0.5 = positive relationship
0 = no correlation
- 0.5 = negative correlation
- 1 = very strong negative correlation
Strengths of correlational research
- tells us how variables are related - good starting point in research
- cheap and easy
- allows predictions to be made
- quantification of relationships
Weaknesses of correlational research
- no cause and effect / direction of relationship
- third variable problem leads to correlations being misinterpreted.