correlations Flashcards
what is a correlation
- Determining the extent of an association between two variables
- (RELATIONSHIP AND ASSOCIATION)
what is a positive correlation
- as one variable increases, the other increases = +1
- strong = dots close + in a line
- weak = dots scattered all over graph
Strong = 0.7-0.9
Mod = 0.4-0.6
Weak = 0.0-0.3
what is a negative correlation
- as one variable increases, the other decreases = -1
- strong = dots close + in a line
- weak = dots scattered all over graph
Strong = 0.7-0.9
Mod = 0.4-0.6
Weak = 0.0-0.3
what is no correlation
No relationship between the variable = 0
what is the Correlation coefficient (r)
A number between -1 and +1 that tells us the direction and strength between the two variables
what is an intervening variable
A variable that occurs between the independent and dependent variables - can’t control as we aren’t manipulating
what is a third variable problem
A type of confounding in which a third variable leads to a mistaken causal relationship between two others
what are the strengths/positives of correlations
- Useful because we can use them when research may have ethical issues
- They can lead onto experiments or experimental research ( if we see a relationship, we can further investigate this )
what are the weaknesses/negatives of correlations
- Cause and effect (as experimenters , we have not manipulated variables, therefore we cannot be sure of the relationship, as the relationship may just be a coincident , all we can do is suggest a link )
- This can also lead into a third variable problem, which can have an impact