Correlations

Question 1

What is the difference between a correlation and an experiment?

Answer 1

Correlation: co-variables cannot be manipulated; they can only be measured so cause cannot be established

Experiments: involve the manipulation of one variable (IV) to see the effect on another (DV), allowing cause to be established

Question 2

What are the variables called in a correlational study?

Answer 2

Co-variables

Question 3

What is meant by a positive correlation?

Answer 3

As one co-variable increases, the other one does too

Question 4

What is meant by a negative correlation?

Answer 4

As one co-variable increases, the other decreases

Question 5

What is meant by a zero correlation?

Answer 5

There is no link between the two co-variables

Question 6

What is meant by a correlation co-efficient?

Answer 6

A statistic that expresses the strength and direction of a correlation

-A perfect positive correlation = +1
-A perfect negative correlation = -1
-No correlation at all = 0
-The + or - represents the direction of the correlation
-The number represents the strength. The closer to one from 0, the stronger the correlation

Question 7

Give a strength of correlational research

Answer 7

It allows the researcher to study the relationship between variables that cannot be manipulated ethically

Question 8

Give another strength of correlational research

Answer 8

If two variables are correlated, we know that there is a causal link and more research can be done

Question 9

Give a limitation of correlational research

Answer 9

Association does not mean causation, meaning cause and effect cannot be established

Question 10

Give another limitation of correlational research?

Answer 10

We do not know which co-variable causes the other to change