correlation

Cards (8)

  • Correlation
    A mathematical technique that is used to investigate an association between two variables which are called co-variables
  • Correlations differ to experiments as the variables are simply measured, not manipulated like in experiments, and only an association is found, no cause-and-effect relationship found hence the terms DV and IV are not used
  • Negative correlation

    When one variable increases the other decreases
  • Positive correlation

    When one variable increases the other also increases
  • Zero correlation

    No relationship is found between the co-variables
  • 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
  • Strengths of 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
    • Secondary data can be used in the correlational study which makes it even less time consuming
  • Limitations of correlations
    • It is difficult to establish a cause and effect relationship, really only an association is found
    • The third variable problem is presented - this is when there is a chance that there is another variable, a third variable which the researcher is unaware of that is responsible for the relationship between the co-variables
    • Correlations tend to be misused or misinterpreted especially when made public by the media - correlation is often presented as causation