Correlations Flashcards
Explain how a report is made
Abstract
Introduction
Method
Results
Discussion
Referencing
Appendices
Explain what is meant by peer review
To ensure that the papers published are valid and unbiased. It is also used to make sure the experiment is good quality and hasn’t simple been made up.
Explain the system of peer review
- Research is submitted to a journal
- Editor examines the research and sends it to other psychologists who are experts in the field
- Work is returned with recommendations about the suitability for publication
Identify the problems of the peer review
Production Bias - Gender bias, institution or reviewer may have a different viewpoint from the researcher
File drawer phenomenon - If the research isn’t significant they get rid of it (unrepresentative)
Objectivity - A reviewer may favour an opposing view making them less likely to provide an unbiased view
Preserving the status quo (the dorms) - If research isn’t under the norm
Type I & Type II Errors
Explain what a Type I error is
Saying something’s true but it’s not
Type I & Type II Errors
Explain what a Type II error is
Saying something is false but it isn’t
Explain what a correlation is
A test of relationship
Non-experimental methods
No independent or dependant variables - They are co-variables
Explain Correlation coefficients
The correlation coefficient is measured from -1 (perfect negative) to +1 (perfect positive)
Can be positive, negative or no correlation
The higher the number, the stronger the relationship
Close to 0 = there’s no correlation
Correlation and causation
Correlation does not mean causation
Explain the three possible explanations of a relationship
- X caused Y
- Y caused X
- A third variable (Z) caused the change to both X and Y
Explain 3 strengths of correlational research
+ Only little manipulation of behaviour is required, researcher only measures existing variables - means high in mundane realism/ecological validity
+ Can be used when it would be impractical and unethical to manipulate variables
+ Quick and easy way to carry out research, uses existing data
Explain 3 weaknesses of correlational research
- No cause and effect relationships can be inferred (A third intervening variable could be the cause)
- A lack of internal/external validity (E.G: sample may lack generalisability)
- Only contains interval and ordinal data
Explain the reliability of correlations
Will only be reliable if the measures of both variables are consistent
Explain the validity of correlations
Ensuring the variables are defined and measured effectively will ensure high validity
Explain how to write a correlation hypothesis
[[don’t use ‘different’ or affect’ in hypothesis’]]
Framework for directional alternative hypothesis:
There will be a [direction] correlation between variable 1 and variable 2
Framework for non-directional hypothesis:
There will be a correlation between variable 1 and variable 2
Framework for null hypothesis:
There will be no correlation between variable 1 and variable 2
Draw the table of statistical tests
