Correlations

Question 1

What are correlations?

Answer 1

• they illustrate the strength & direction of an association between 2 or more co-variables
• they’re plotted on a scattergram

Question 2

What are the types of correlation?

Answer 2

• positive correlation
• negative correlation
• zero correlation

Question 3

What is positive correlation?

Answer 3

as one co-variable increases the other also increases

Question 4

What is negative correlation?

Answer 4

as one co-variable increases the other decreases

Question 5

What is zero correlation?

Answer 5

there is no relationship between the co-variables

Question 6

What is the difference between correlations & experiments?

Answer 6

• in an experiment the researcher controls/ manipulates the IV to measure the effect on the DV
• in a correlation there is no manipulation of a variable therefore it’s not possible to establish the cause & effect between a co-variable
• intervening variables are ‘other variables’ that may influence a co-variable which shouldn’t be disregarded

Question 7

What are the strengths of correlations?

Answer 7

• useful tool for research as they assess the strength & direction of a relationship
• provide a precise measure of how 2 variables are related
• may suggest ideas for possible future research if variables are strongly related
• correlations often used as a starting point to assess possible patterns between variables before an experimental study is committed to
• relatively quick & economical to carry out
• no need for a controlled environment & no manipulation of variables is needed
• secondary data can be used so correlations are less time-consuming

Question 8

What are limitations of correlations?

Answer 8

• due to lack of experimental manipulation studies can only tell us how variables are related but not why
• correlations can’t demonstrate cause & effect between variables so we can’t determine which co-variable is causing the change on the other
• an intervening variable may be causing the relationship between the two co-variables
• correlations can be misused or misinterpreted sometimes (due to media)