Introduction to Correlational Research

Positive Correlations

Types of Correlations

No Correlation

There are three types of correlations:

Positive Correlation

Negative Correlation

No Correlation

Both variables are moving in same direction, either increasing or decreasing together.

The r value is positive.

(Always heads in linear direction from bottom left corner of graph to top right.)

Correlations have two properties:

Strength is determined by the correlations' numerical value, and is represented as r.

Direction refers to whether the correlations fall on a negative or positive slope across the scatterplot.

(More on this later!)

This occurs when two variables have no relationship with each other. The plot points are scattered randomly throughout the scatterplot, and the r value is 0.

Negative Correlations

Recap: What Did We Learn?

Determining the Strength of a Correlation

1. Correlational research looks for relationships between variables

2. You can have positive, negative or zero correlation between variables

3. Information can be collected quickly and be used to make casual inferences about large amounts of data.

In Simple Terms...

http://study.com/academy/lesson/correlational-research-definition-purpose-examples.html

The variables are always moving in opposite directions. As one increases the other will decrease, and vice-versa.

The r value is negative.

(Heads in linear direction from top left to bottom right corner.)

The stronger a correlation, the closer it is to forming a straight line. A perfect correlation has a value of 1(or -1).

Example: A -.87 correlation is stronger then -.37

A .63 correlation is stronger then .10

When comparing negative and positive correlation results, disregard the positive and negative symbol and go with the closest value to 1.

Example: -.98 is stronger then +.47

-.33 and +.33 would be equal strength or r.

Here are some examples!

Introduction to Correlational Research

Education, Income Level Of Parent Correlated To Child’s Brain Development.

Correlational research is the process of comparing two or more variables in order to determine if there is a relationship between them.

*You cannot draw a conclusion about cause and effect using correlation.

Correlation is not causation!

Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths

• provides a good starting point for further research
• this research usually takes place outside the lab
• it opens up research to other scholars

Weaknesses

• doesn't provide a cause
• it doesn't reveal what variable influences the other

Correlational Research

Let's Play!

Bree, Caitie and Holly

Music Trivia!!

You must try to:

Name the title of the song

Name the artist

Try you best but don't talk with your neighbors or the results will be invalid!