Correlations

Question 1

What are the different types of correlations?

Answer 1

Positive - as one variable increases other increases, e.g. height & shoe size

Negative - as one variable increases other decreases, e.g. time absent from school & GCSEs

Zero - when correlation study finds no relationship between variables

Question 2

What is used to show correlation?

Answer 2

Scattergraph

Question 3

Evaluate correlational techniques

Answer 3

Strength - ideal place to begin preliminary research investigations - measures strength of relationship between two or more variables, thus can provide insight for further research. This type of analysis can be used if lab experiment would be unethical

Limitation - not possible to establish cause & effect relationship - researcher cont conclude one variable caused other to increase/decrease, as there’d be other factors (3rd variable problem). Correlations can also only find linear relationships, not curvilinear