research methods: correlation

Question 1

what’s a correlation?

Answer 1

a technique used by researchers to establish the strength of a relationship between two co variables

Question 2

how to describe the relationship shown on a graph showing a positive correlation

Answer 2

as one co variable increases the other co variable increases but not necessarily at the same rate

Question 3

how to describe the relationship shown on a graph showing a negative correlation

Answer 3

as one co variable decreases the other co variable decreases but not necessarily at the same rate

Question 4

how to describe the relationship shown on a graph showing no correlation

Answer 4

there’s no relationship between the two co variables

Question 5

how are hypotheses for correlational research different to hypotheses for experimental research, what does two tailed look like and one tailed?

Answer 5

there is no inference of causation
there will/will not be a significant relationship between…
to make it one tailed, put positive or negative before correlation

Question 6

what are strengths of the correlational design?

Answer 6

• always quantitative data which is easy to analyse
• can act as a quick start point to establish trends before planning more time consuming experimental work
• they allow us to look at the relationship between variables that would be unethical to control and manipulate

Question 7

what are the weaknesses of the correlational design?

Answer 7

• they do not allow us to establish cause and effect as no comparison of conditions has taken place
• quantitative data lacks depth and detail which inhibits our ability to understand why there was or wasn’t a significant relationship between two co variables