Research methods 11: Correlations

Question 1

What is a positive correlation?

Answer 1

If an increase in one variable tends to be associated with an increase in the other then this is known as a positive correlation

Question 2

What is a negative correlation?

Answer 2

If an increase in one variable tends to be associated with a decrease in the other then this is known as a negative correlation

Question 3

What is a zero correlation?

Answer 3

When there is no relationship between variables

Question 4

What level of correlation would a 0.0 correlation coefficient be?

Answer 4

Zero correlation

Question 5

What level of correlation would a +0.5 correlation coefficient be?

Answer 5

Average positive correlation

Question 6

What level of correlation would a +0.1 correlation coefficient be?

Answer 6

A weak positive correlation

Question 7

What level of correlation would a +1.0 correlation coefficient be?

Answer 7

A strong positive correlation

Question 8

What level of correlation would a -0.1 correlation coefficient be?

Answer 8

A weak negative correlation

Question 9

What level of correlation would a -0.5 correlation coefficient be?

Answer 9

An average negative correlation

Question 10

What level of correlation would a -1.0 correlation coefficient be?

Answer 10

A strong negative correlation

Question 11

What are the two strengths of correlational studies?

Answer 11

-Sometimes the only way of studying variables that you cannot manipulate
-It has high reliability