research methods: correlations

Question 1

What do correlations illustrate?

Answer 1

The strength and direction of an association between to or more co-variables

Question 2

What is positive correlation?

Answer 2

As one variable increases so does the other

Question 3

What is negative correlation?

Answer 3

As one variable increases, the other decreases

Question 4

What is zero correlation?

Answer 4

There is no relationship between the co-variables

Question 5

What is a correlation coefficient?

Answer 5

Represents both the strength and direction of the relationship between co-variables as a number between -1 and +1

Question 6

What correlation co-efficient shows a strong correlation?

Answer 6

Equal to or greater than +0.80

Question 7

What is perfect correlation?

Answer 7

When there is a correlation coefficient of +1

Question 8

What happens in an experiment?

Answer 8

• the researcher controls/ manipulates the IV to measure the effect on the DV
• As a result of this deliberate change in one variable, it is possible to infer that the IV caused any observed changes in the DV

Question 9

What happens in a correlation in contrast?

Answer 9

• There is no manipulation of one variable -> it is not possible to establish cause and effect between co-variables
• ‘other variables’ may influence the co-variables known as intervening variables

Question 10

What are the 3 main differences about experiments?

Answer 10

• Independent and dependent variables
• Measures cause and effect of independent variable on dependent variable
• Can be influenced by extraneous variables

Question 11

What are the 3 main differences about correlations?

Answer 11

• Co-variables
• Measures relationships between 2 variables
• Can be influenced by third variables called intervening variables

Question 12

What is one strength of correlations?

Answer 12

Useful as a primary tool
- Correlations provide a quantifiable measure of how two variables are related
- if two variables are strongly related, this might suggest ideas for later research

Question 13

What is a counterpoint to this strength?

Answer 13

If two variables are related, this does not always mean that one might have caused the other

Question 14

What is another strength of correlations?

Answer 14

Quick and economical
- as correlations are only concerned with assessing the relationship between two co-variables, there is no need for a controlled environment or to manipulate variables
- secondary data can also be used (e.g. government statistics) which is less time consuming

Question 15

What is one limitation of correlations?

Answer 15

Cannot demonstrate cause and effect
- due to the lack of experimental manipulation, studies can tell us how variables are related but not why
- we don’t know which co-variable is causing the other one to change. Therefore establishing the direction of the effect is an issue
- may suggest a relationship exists between co-variables but does not show which variable led to a change in the other variable

Question 16

What is another limitation of correlations?

Answer 16

Third variable problems
- Another untested variable (an intervening variable) may be causing the relationship between the two co-variables