Correlational Analysis

Question 1

What is Correlational Analysis ?

Answer 1

• Investigate the relationship between two variables
• Doesn’t determine a cause and effect relationship
  > Just to see if 2 variables are linked

Question 2

4 steps to carry out Correlational Analysis

Answer 2

1. Decide which two variables you want to study
2. Collect data on these two variables
3. Visually represent this data using a scattergram
4. Work out the correlation coefficient

Question 3

Positive Correlation

Answer 3

• As one variable increases the other variable also increases

Question 4

Negative Correlation

Answer 4

• As one variable increases, the other variable decreases

Question 5

No Correlation

Answer 5

• No correlation between two variables

Question 6

What is a Correlation coefficient

Answer 6

• Number between -1 and +1 which indicates the strength of the correlation (relationship) between the two variables

Question 7

2 advantages of Correlational Analysis

Answer 7

• Allow preliminary research to be carried out in order to indicate if there is a link between two variables
  > Then investigated using Experimental Methods
• Allow the generation of a larger amount of data than experimental methods
  > quick and easy

Question 8

2 disadvantages of Correlational Analysis

Answer 8

• Impossible to infer cause and effect
• Only measure ‘linear relationships’
  > Some variables are related in what we call a ‘curvilinear relationship’