Lesson 4 - Correlations

Question 1

What is a correlation?

Answer 1

Correlation is a technique for analysing the strength and direction of the relationship between two variables, known in correlation as co-variables.

Question 2

What are the 3 types of correlation?

Answer 2

Positive correlation, negative correlation, no correlation.

Question 3

What is a positive correlation?

Answer 3

Positive correlation means that as one variable increases the other variable increases as well, vice versa.

Question 4

What is a negative correlation?

Answer 4

A negative correlation means that as one

variable increases the other variable decreases.

Question 5

What does 1, 0 and -1 mean?

Answer 5

1 means that there is a strong positive correlation.

0 means that there is no correlation.

-1 means that there is a strong negative correlation.

Question 6

What are the advantages of correlation?

Answer 6

1. Allows psychologists to establish the strength of the relationship between two variables and measure it precisely
2. Once a correlation has been conducted predictions can be made about one of
   the variables based on what is known about the other variable.
3. Allows researchers to investigate things that could not be manipulated experimentally for ethical or practical reasons.

Question 7

What are the disadvantages of correlation?

Answer 7

1. It cannot demonstrate cause and effect
2. Does not account for a possible third variable which influences both
3. Correlation can only measure linear relationships not curvilinear

Question 8

What are the differences between correlations and experiments?

Answer 8

1. Experiments establish cause and effect by isolating and manipulating the IV and eradicates any EV’s unlike correlations.
2. An experiment tests the effect of the IV on the DV, a correlation looks for a relationship between two co-variables.