Correlations

Question 1

What is meant by the term correlation?

Answer 1

mutual relationship between two or more co-variables

Question 2

What are co-variables?

Answer 2

variables investigated within a correlation

Question 3

What are the 3 types of correlations?

Answer 3

• positive
• negative
• zero

Question 4

What is a positive correlation?

Answer 4

• as one co-variable increases the other also increases
• same trend observed

Question 5

What is a negative correlation?

Answer 5

as one co-variable increases the other decreases

Question 6

What is a zero correlation?

Answer 6

when there is no relationship between the co-variables

Question 7

What are the differences between correlations ad experiments?

Answer 7

• in an experiment there is a manipulation of the IV in order to measure effect on DV > can infer cause & effect
• correlation there is no manipulation of one variable - can’t infer cause & effect between one co-variable & another

Question 8

What are the strengths of using correlations?

Answer 8

• provided a precise & quantifiable measure of how two variables are related
• used as a starting point to assess possible patterns before researchers commit to study
• can use secondary data
• relatively quick & economical to carry out
• no need for controlled environment or manipulation of variables

Question 9

What are the weaknesses of using correlations?

Answer 9

• correlation can only tell us how variables are related not why
• correlations cannot demonstrate cause & effect between variables
• third variable problem that could be causing relationship between two co-variables
  can be misused & misinterpreted