Correlations Flashcards
What do you look for in a correlation?
Relationship between two variables
What type of data do correlations use?
Quantitative (ordinal or interval)
Primary or secondary
What variables do correlations use?
Co-variables
Not independent variables or dependent variables
What are the three types of correlation?
Positive, negative and no correlation
What is a correlation coefficient?
Measure from -1 to 1
What is a positive correlation?
As one variable increases, so does the other (but not at the same rate)
What is a negative correlation
As one variable increases, the other decreases (but not at the same rate)
What is a no correlation?
If no line of best fit can be drawn, there is zero correlation
How do correlations identify new areas of research?
Allows us to find relationships we never realised existed, so we can test this further
Why can we not assume cause and effect with correlations?
Just because there is a relationship, it does not mean there are not other important and influencing variables
Why are correlations quick and easy to carry out?
Existing data is used
What do correlations not account for, therefore lowering validity?
Extraneous variables
Why is it a strength for correlations that the data is already gathered?
Requires little manipulation of the behaviour
What do correlations fail to account for?
Non-linear relationships, so lack of correlation does not mean no relationship
