correlations

Question 1

intro

Answer 1

• Correlations illustrate the nature of an association between two co-variables
• Assessing if there is a link / a relationship between two things.
• What that link is.
• How strong the link is.
• Plotted on a scattergram
• Co-variables on each axis.
• Strength of correlation is indicated by a correlation coefficient (r) ranging from -1 - +1

Question 2

types of correlation

Answer 2

positive-one variable increases so does other r=+1

negative-as one variable increases other decreases r=-1

no correlation-no relationship r=0

Question 3

difference between correlations and experiments

Answer 3

• Non-Experimental Method
• Experiments have an IV and a DV
• These allow us to infer causality
• Correlations don’t have any manipulation of variables.
• Means that it is not possible to infer causality.
• You must consider third party variables / intervening variables.
• Example: Research support for the authoritarian personality by Elms and Milgram.

Question 4

strengths-correlation

Answer 4

Good preliminary tool.
• Assessing the strength and direction of a relationship could suggest possible idea for future research if the variables are strongly related or indicate some kind of interesting pattern.
• Often provide a starting point to assess patterns between variables before researchers commit to research.

Economical form of research.
• Quick and easy to carry out.
-There is no need for a controlled environment and no manipulation of variables in needed.
-Research can even use secondary data making correlation even less time consuming.

Question 5

limitations-correlations

Answer 5

• Can only tell us how variables are related but not why.
• This is due to the lack of experimental manipulation and control within a correlational study.
• Correlational studies cannot demonstrate cause and effect and therefore we can’t be sure which variable is causing the other to change.
• “Direction of Causality” e.g. Caffeine and Anxiety

• The third variable problem.
• Anxiety
• Caffeine
• High pressure job.

• Misuse of results
• The issues above can lead to the results being misused and misinterpreted.
• Relationships are often quoted as facts, when they are not.
• Single parent households and crime