correlations - research methods

• what are correlations


  a nonexperimental method of measuring relationships between two covariables
• where do we plot correlation data

  on a scatter diagram
• what does a correlation tell us

  the relationship and strength of two variables
• what is the correlation coefficient

  the extent to which a high value on one variable is associated with high values on the other
• what does +1 represent

  a perfect positive correlation
• what does -1 represent

  a perfect negative correlation
• what does 0 represent

  no correlation at all
• what happens in a positive correlation

  as one variable increases/decreases, so does the other, but not necessarily at the same rate
• what happens in a negative correlation

  as one variable increases the other decreases but not necessarily at the same rate
• what happens when there is no correlation

  there is no relationship between the variables
• strengths of correlations (2)

  1 - can show a relationship between variables, the strength of it, and the nature of it = can lead to hypotheses

  2 - it is useful if it is not ethical or practical to manipulate the variables together
• weaknesses of correlations (2)

  1 - only looks at relationships between variables = can't establish a cause and effect relationship

  2 - doesn't account for intervening variables