correlations

Question 1

what is a correlation?

Answer 1

a mathematical technique in which a researcher investigates an association between two variables, called co-variables

Question 2

what are co-variables?

Answer 2

the variable investigated within a correlation, investigates the association between them

Question 3

what is a positive correlation?

Answer 3

as one co-variable increases, so does the other
or one co-variable decreases, so does the other

Question 4

what is a negative correlation?

Answer 4

as one co-variable increases, the other decreases

Question 5

what is a zero correlation?

Answer 5

there is no relationship between the co-variables

Question 6

difference between correlation and experiment

Answer 6

in experiment, researcher manipulates the IV and records the effect on the DV. in correlation, there is no such manipulation of one variable and therefore it is not able to establish a cause and effect relationship between two co-variables

Question 7

correlation coefficient

Answer 7

• represents direction and strength of a relationship between co-variables
• +1 represents a strong positive correlation, -1 represents strong negative correlation
• the closer to zero, the weaker the relationship is

Question 8

advantages of using correlational analysis

Answer 8

• quick and economical to carry out = no need for controlled environment and so no manipulation of variables is required
• useful research tool = provide precise measure of how two variables are related, asses potential relationship before doing experimental study

Question 9

weaknesses of using correlational analysis

Answer 9

• cannot show cause and effect = correlation doesn’t mean causation, don’t know which co-variable is causing the other to change
• other variables may be causing the relationship .e.g intervening variables