correlations

Question 1

9

what are correlations

Answer 1

correlation illustrates the strength and direction of an association between two or more co - variables

In other words, it shows the relationship between co-variables

Question 2

how are correlations plotted

Answer 2

correlations are plotted on a scattergram

One co - variable forms the x - axis and the other on the y - axis
Each point or dot on the graph is the x and y position of the co - variables

Question 3

what are the different types of correlation

Answer 3

we can get positive correlations:
this is when as one co - variables increases, another co - variables

we might get a negative correlation:
this is when one co - variable causes a decrease in another

Question 4

what is the difference between correlations and experiments

Answer 4

In an experiment, a researcher controls or manipulates the independent variable (IV) in order to measure the effect on the dependent variable (DV)

As a result of this deliberate change in one variable, it is possible to infer the IV caused any observed changes in the DV

in a correlation there is no manipulation of one variable therefore it is not possible to establish on co - variable caused another as there could be “other variables”- intervening variables

Question 5

what are some strength for correlations

Answer 5

correlations are a useful preliminary tool for research
- by assessing the strength and direction of a relationship, they provide a precise and quantifiable measures of how two variables are related

This may suggest ideas for possible future research if variables are strongly related or demonstrate an interesting pattern

• relatively quick and economical to carry out as there is no need to a controlled environment and no manipulation of the variables is required

Question 6

what are some limitations for correlations

Answer 6

As a result of the lack of experimental manipulation and control within a correlation, studies can only tell us how variables are related and not why.
This means we can’t demonstrate cause and effect between variables and so we don’t know which co - variable is causing the other
Therefore establishing direction of the effect is an issue

-correlation may be due to another untested variable - an intervening variable
This is known as the third variable problem.
Due to this, correlations can be misused or misinterpreted like how in the media, the relationship between variables are seen as facts when in reality they might not be

e.g. single parent households are more likely to have their children involved in crime. Children from single parent families have experienced certain hardships such as emotional distress when their parents split up, so this might explain the link between one - parent families and crime ( a third variable is a play here)