Ethical issues

Question 1

What is a correlation?

Answer 1

A correlation illustrates the strength and direction of an association between 2 co-variables.

Question 2

What are the types of correlation?

Answer 2

• Postive correlation: Co-variables increase together
• Negative correlation: One co-variable increases, the other decreases
• Zero correlation: No relationship between variables

Question 5

What is the second strength of correlations?

Answer 5

2. They are relatively economical
   - Unlike a lab study, there is no need for a controlled environment and secondary data can be used.
   - So correlations are less time consuming than experiments.

Question 6

What is the first limitation of correlations?

Answer 6

1. No cause and effect
   - Correlations are often presented as casual, when they only shpw how two variables are related.
   - This leads to false conclusions about causes of behaviour.

Question 7

What is the second limitation of correlations?

Answer 7

2. Intervening variables
   - Another untested varibale may explain relationship between co-variables.
   - This may also lead to a false conclusion.