Correlations & types of data

Question 1

What is meant by the term correlation?

Answer 1

• mutual relationship between two or more co-variables

Question 2

What are co-variables?

Answer 2

• variables investigated within a correlation

Question 3

What are the 3 types of correlations?

Answer 3

• positive
• negative
• zero

Question 4

What is a positive correlation?

Answer 4

• as one co-variable increases the other also increases
• same trend observed

Question 5

What is a negative correlation?

Answer 5

• as one co-variable increases the other decreases

Question 6

What is a zero correlation?

Answer 6

• when there is no relationship between the co-variables

Question 7

What are the differences between correlations ad experiments?

Answer 7

• in an experiment there is a manipulation of the IV in order to measure effect on DV > can infer cause & effect
• correlation there is no manipulation of one variable - can’t infer cause & effect between one co-variable & another

Question 8

What are the strengths of using correlations?

Answer 8

• provided a precise & quantifiable measure of how two variables are related
• used as a starting point to assess possible patterns before researchers commit to study
• can use secondary data
• relatively quick & economical to carry out
• no need for controlled environment or manipulation of variables

Question 9

What are the weaknesses of using correlations?

Answer 9

• correlation can only tell us how variables are related not why
• correlations cannot demonstrate cause & effect between variables
• third variable problem that could be causing relationship between two co-variables
• can be misused & misinterpreted

Question 10

What is qualitative data?

Answer 10

• data that is expressed in words and may take form of a written description of thoughts, feelings & opinions of participants

Question 11

What is quantitative data?

Answer 11

• data that is expressed numerically, usually in the form of individual scores from participants

Question 12

Strengths and weaknesses of using qualitative data

Answer 12

strengths
- rich in detail & depth
- respondent can elaborate more fully
- greater external validity
weaknesses
- harder to compare & analyse
- produces subjective data
- may be subject to bias from researcher

Question 13

Strengths & weaknesses of quantitative data

Answer 13

strengths
- easy to analyse & compare (convert into graphs & charts)
- tends to be more objective
- less open to bias
- representative
weaknesses
- lacks detail & depth
- fails to represent ‘real life’

Question 14

What is primary data?

Answer 14

• original data that has been collected by a researcher for the purpose of their research

Question 15

What is secondary data?

Answer 15

• data that has been collected by someone else and already exists before the psychologist begins their research

Question 16

Strengths and weaknesses of collecting primary data

Answer 16

strengths:
- data is specific to the purpose of research
- up to data information
weaknesses:
- time consuming & effort required
- requires planning, preparation & resources (costly)

Question 17

Strenghts and weaknesses of collecting secondary data

Answer 17

strengths:
- inexpensive
- easily accessed
weaknesses
- may not have all information/incomplete
- lacks quality
- content may not match researchers needs and objectives

Question 18

What is a meta-analyis?

Answer 18

• processing of combining findings from a number of studies on a particular topic to produce an overall statistical conclusion based on the range of studies

Question 19

Strengths of conducting a meta-analysis

Answer 19

• allows you to create a larger, and much varied sample
• results can be generalised across much larger populations> increasing the validity

Question 20

Weaknesses of conducting a meta-analysis

Answer 20

• may be prone to publication bias (file drawer problem)
• researcher may not select all the relevant studies > leaving out studies with negative or non significant results
• conclusions from meta-analysis bias as they only represent some relevant data

Question 21

What value does a correlation co-efficient have to be within?

Answer 21

-1 and +1

Question 22

What does a correlation coefficient tell us?

Answer 22

strength and direction of the relationship between two variables