Correlations

Cards (5)

  • What is a correlation?
    A relationship between two co-variables
  • What is a correlation coefficient?
    A number between -1 and +1 that measures the strength of a correlation.
    Closer to +1 = stronger positive correlation
    Closer to -1 = stronger negative correlation
  • What is the difference between a correlation and an experiment?
    Correlations are non-experimental: there’s no IV or DV manipulation
    Therefore we can’t measure cause and effect
  • What are the strengths of correlations?
    • Used for preliminary work, as it shows a link between two variables and means further research can occur
    • Data can be secondary (collected by others), making the research quick
  • What are the weaknesses of correlations?
    • Do not show cause and effect
    • Direction of effect: which variable influences the other?
    • May be a third variable causing the affect