Correlations

Question 1

Define correlations

Answer 1

An analysis of the relationship between co-variables.

Question 2

What are the strengths of correlations?

Answer 2

Correlations allows researchers to investigate situations that could not be done experimentally,
Correlations don’t just indicate a relationship but the strength of that relationship.

Question 3

What are the limitations of correlations?

Answer 3

Correlations are seriously affected by sample size - the smaller the sample the less accurate the coefficient.
Correlations cannot reliably establish cause-and-effect.
Correlations only work for linear relationships; they do not work for curvilinear ones.

Question 4

Define a positive correlation

Answer 4

When as one variable increases, the other variable increases, e.g. people of less attractiveness tend to choose less attractive dates.

Question 5

Define a negative correlation

Answer 5

When one variable increases the other variable decreases, e.g. the more people are vaccinated for a specific illness, the less that illness occurs.

Question 6

Define a curvilinear correlation

Answer 6

Where there is a both a positive and negative relationship between the two variables, creating a curve, e.g. as temperature increases so do levels of aggression but as temperature continues to increase, levels of aggression decrease.

Question 7

Define zero correlation

Answer 7

Where there is no relationship between variables, e.g. there is no relationship between intelligence and the amount of ice cream eaten.