Correlations

Question 1

Correlations

Answer 1

Correlations are a technique for analysing the strength of the relationship between two quantitative variables, known as co-variables. The data for a correlation is usually obtained from a non experimental source, such as a survey.

Question 2

Analysis of correlation will show one of three things

Answer 2

Positive correlation
Negative correlation
No correlation

Question 3

Positive correlation

Answer 3

A Positive correlation means that as one variable increases the other variable increases as well.

Question 4

Negative correlation

Answer 4

A negative correlation means that as one variable increases the other variable decreases.

Question 5

No correlation

Answer 5

There is no relationships between the two variables at all.

Question 6

Rules of correlation

Answer 6

The strength of a correlation can be between -1 and 1. Zero means that there is no correlation. -1 means that there is a strong negative correlation. +1 means that there is a strong positive correlation. The strength of the correlation is known as the correlation coefficient.

Question 7

Advantages of correlations

Answer 7

1. This technique does allow psychologists to establish the strength of the relationship between two variables and measure it precisely.
2. This technique also allows researchers to investigate things that could not be manipulated experimentally for ethical or practical reasons.
3. Once a correlation has been conducted predictions can be made about one of the variables based on what is known about the other variable.

Question 8

Disadvantages of correlations

Answer 8

1. Correlational analysis cannot demonstrate cause and effect; we cannot tell which variable influences the other.
2. Even if there is a correlation between two variables it may be the case that the variables are not actually related but that there is a third unknown variable which influences both (confounding variable)
3. Correlations can only measure linear relationships and does not detect curvilinear relationships. This is when there is a positive relationship up to a certain point but after that the relationship becomes negative or vice versa.