correlations

• Correlation

  Analyzing two sets of data to show potential relationships between them and how strong the relationship is
• Correlational study

  • Researcher does not manipulate any variables, they just measure
  • Has two co-variables that the researcher has measured and compares
• Displaying a correlation

  1. Plot data on a scattergram

  2. Determine if correlation is positive, negative, or zero
• Correlation coefficient

  Measures the strength of a correlation, ranging from -1 (perfect negative) to 1 (perfect positive), with 0 indicating no correlation
• Correlation does not show causation
• Increase in one co-variable

  May not mean the other co-variable is altered, could be due to an unknown third variable
• Advantages of correlational research

  • Can highlight potential causal relationships for further investigation
  • Often has few ethical problems as it measures pre-existing variables
  • Correlation coefficient is a useful tool for describing strength of correlation