Research Methods : Correlations

Question 1

What is a correlation

Answer 1

A mathematical technique in which a researcher investigates and association/relationship between two variables, called co-variables.

Question 2

What are co-variables

Answer 2

The variables investigated within a correlation, for example height and weight.

Question 3

Why not independent and dependent variables

Answer 3

Correlation investigate association not cause and effect

Question 4

What is a positive correlation

Answer 4

As one co-variable increases so does the other

Question 5

What is a negative correlation

Answer 5

As one covariable increases the other decreases.

Question 6

What is a zero correlation

Answer 6

When there is no association/relationship between the co-variable

Question 7

What are correlations plotted on

Answer 7

A scatter gram

Each co-variable on axis

Question 8

What is the strength of an association/relationship measured using

Answer 8

Correlation coefficient

Question 9

What does correlation coefficients range from

Answer 9

-1.0 to +1.0

Question 10

What does a + and - coefficient mean

Answer 10

+ = positive correlation and - means negative correlation

Question 11

he closer the coefficient is to -1 or +1 what does it mean

Answer 11

The more strongly the two variables are related

Question 12

List the strength of the correlation for the following

0.8-1, 0.5-0.8 , 0.3 to 0.5 , 0-0.3

Answer 12

0.8 – 1 = strong correlation
• 0.5 – 0.8 = mild correlation
• 0.3 – 0.5 = weak correlation
• 0 -0.3 = no correlation
Closer to 0 , more zero correlation

Question 13

What are the differences between experiment and correlation

Answer 13

No manipulator of IV to see effect on DV
So no cause and effect in correlation
Even if strong correlation between co variables
Cannot assume cause
Presence of intervening variables that could influence the relationship between co variables

Question 14

Give an example of intervening variables

Answer 14

strong positive relationship between caffeine and anxiety level

Other intervening variable such as personality , personal problems stress for this relationship

Cannot say caffeine increases anxiety levels

Question 15

What is strength of correlations

Answer 15

Correlations are relatively quick and cost-effective to carry out.

There is no need for a controlled environment and no manipulation of variables is required.

Secondary data (data collected by others) can be used, which means correlations are less time consuming and less expensive than experiments.

Correlations are useful as a preliminary tool for research. For example, assessing the strength and direction of a relationships can provide a precise and quantifiable measure of how two variables are related. This could suggest ideas for future research. Therefore, correlations are often used as a starting point to assess possible patterns between variables

Question 16

What are the limitations of correlations

Answer 16

lack of experimental manipulation and control within a correlation, studies can only tell us that variables are related not why

temperature increases so does the number of ice- creams sold. However, they cannot tell is why they are related.

suffer from the third variable problem where another untested variable is causing the relationship between the co-variables.
Caffeine-anxiety example
Another variable could be causing the relationships between two co-variables but we might be unaware of what it is

Correlations can occasionally be misused or misinterpreted.
The media often present the relationships between variables as “causal” facts (i.e. there is a cause effect relationship
Not same in reality