Correlational research

What does a correlational study look at?

The relationship between 2 things (co-variables)

Is there an IV and a DV in a correlation study?

No, instead, co-variables are used.

How is data from a correlation study presented?

As a scattergram

What test is used to calculate an accurate correlation coefficient?

A spearman test

Strength of correlational research?

It is a useful way to conduct preliminary analysis on data. If a correlation is not strong, we can rule out a casual relationship. If the correlation is strong, we can justify further research as there might be a casual link.

Weakness of correlational research?

Correlations don’t establish a cause and effect, they only establish a relationship between two variables. Therefore, there may be intervening variables which can explain how the co-variables are linked. (For example, think about the forest fire, ice cream and temperature example - temperature links the co-variables together rather than them being linked to each other).

What kind of data do correlational studies produce?

Ordinal

What is ordinal data?

Data that can be put into order. The difference between values (the intervals) will not necessarily be the same. For example, the positions of runners in a race.