Correlations

• what is a correlation?

  mathematical technique that is used to investigate an association between two variables (co-variables)
• what are correlations plotted on?

  scattergram
• why are the terms IV and DV not used?

  correlations are used to find associations not to establish cause and effect relationships
• what does a negative correlation have a coefficient of?

  less than 0
• what does a positive correlation have a coefficient of?

  more than 0
• what is a curvilinear relationship?

  as one variable increases, so does the other but only up to a certain point after which as one variable continues to increase the other begins to decrease
• what are strengths o correlations?

  • they can be used as starting points to assess patterns between co-variables before committing to conducting an experimental study
  • Quick and economical to carry out as does not need to be conducted in a controlled environment where the IV needs to be manipulated
  • Secondary data can be used = even less time consuming
• what are the limitations of correlations?

  • studies tell us how the variables are related but not why = difficult to establish a cause and effect relationship
  • third variable problem
  • misused or misinterpreted especially when made public by the media - correlation is often presented as causation when it is only the association
• what is the third variable problem?

  a third variable / intervening which the researcher is unaware of that may be responsible for the relationship between the co-variables.