Lesson 4 - Correlations

Question 1

Correlations

Answer 1

Technique for analysing the strength and direction of the relationship between two variables, known in correlation as co-variables

Question 2

Correlation Analysis

Answer 2

Shows whether there is a positive, negative or no correlation
Positive means as one variable increases, other increases as well (or as one decreases, other decreases)
Negative means as one increases, other decreases

Question 3

Correlation Strength

Answer 3

0 means no correlation
-1 means strong negative correlation
1 means strong positive correlation
Strength is known as correlation coefficient

Question 4

Correlations Advantages

Answer 4

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

Question 5

Correlations Disadvantages

Answer 5

Correlational analysis cannot demonstrate cause and effect; we cannot tell which variable influences the other
Even if there is a correlation, the variables may not actually be related but there is a third unknown variable influencing both
Correlation can only measure liner relationships and does not detect curvlinear relationships

Question 6

Differences Between Correlations and Experiments

Answer 6

An experiment isolates and manipulates the IV to observe its effect on the DV and controls the environment to eliminate EV. Experiments establish cause and effect
Experiment tests effect that an IV has upon a DV but a correlation looks for a relationship between CV
This means an experiment can predict cause and effect but a correlation can only predict a relationship as a third EV may be involved which is unknown