correlations AO3

Question 1

what are the strengths of correlations

Answer 1

• they are a useful preliminary tool for research- by assessing the strength and direction of a relationship, they provide a precise and quantifiable measure of how two variables are strongly related or demonstrate an interesting pattern
• correlations are often used as a starting point to asses possible patterns between variables before researchers commit to an experimental study
• correlations are relatively quick and economical to carry out. There is no need for a controlled environment and no manipulation of variables is required
• Data collected by others (secondary data such as government statistics) can be used, which means correlations are less time-consuming than experiments

Question 2

highlight the limitations of correlations

Answer 2

• as a result of experimental manipulation and control within a correlation, studies can only tell us HOW variables are related but not WHY
• correlations cannot demonstrate cause and effect between variables and therefore we do not know which co-variable is causing the other to change. For example, we cannot conclude that drinking caffeine causes anxiety. It may be that people are who are already anxious drink more caffeine as a result so establishing the direction of the effect is an issue.
• it may also be the case that another untested variable is causing the relationship between the two co-variables we are interested in- an intervening variable (also known as the third variable problem). Perhaps people who have high pressure jobs- and hence spend a lot of their time feeling anxious- drink a lot of caffeine because they work long hours and need to remain alert. Therefore, the key unaccounted - for variable here is job type which in effect is causing the relationship between the other two co-variables
• correlations can be occasionally misused or misinterpreted. Relationships between variable are sometimes presented as casual when they aren’t- especially by the media