Correlations

Question 1

What is a correlation

Answer 1

• illustrates the strength and direction of an association between 2 or more co-variables
• plotted on a scattergram one on the x axis one on the y axis

Question 2

Types of correlation

Answer 2

Positive C = as one variable increases so does the other

Negative C = as one variable increases the other decreases

Zero C = when there is no relationship between the variables

Question 3

The difference between correlations and experiments

Answer 3

Experiment
- researcher manipulates the IV in order to measure the effect on the DV; deliberate change in one variable

Correlation
- no manipulation of one variable; not possible to establish cause and effect between one variable and the other
E.g. if caffeine increased anxiety; we cannot assume that caffeine was the only cause of anxiety

Question 4

Evaluate correlations

Answer 4

Strengths:
-> precise and quantifiable measure of how 2 variables are related
-> relatively quick and economical to carry out; no manipulation of variables

Limitations:
-> cant demonstrate cause and effect between variables - don’t know what variable if effecting the other
-> intervening variables; another untested v could be causing the relationship
-> correlations can be misinterpreted