Correlations

• What does association show in research methods?

  Strength and direction of association
• How are correlations represented visually?

  On a scattergram with two variables
• What is a positive correlation?

  Variables increase together
• What is a negative correlation?

  One variable increases, the other decreases
• What does zero correlation indicate?

  No relationship between variables
• What are the key differences between correlations and experiments?

  • Experiments manipulate the independent variable (IV)
  • Correlations do not manipulate variables
  • Cause and effect cannot be demonstrated in correlations
  • Correlations assess the strength and direction of relationships
• Why are correlations useful in research?

  They provide a precise measure of relationships
• What might explain the relationship in a correlation?

  Intervening variables
• How do correlations compare to lab studies in terms of cost?

  Correlations are relatively economical
• Why are correlations less time-consuming than experiments?

  They do not require controlled environments
• What are the limitations of correlations in research?

  • Cannot demonstrate cause and effect
  • Influence of extraneous variables is uncontrolled
  • Often presented as causal despite lack of evidence
• whats meant by reliability?

  how consistent results of a study are