Correlational design

Page 1: Correlational Design Overview

  • Introduction to correlational design concepts.

  • Cost analysis represented in various formats.

Page 2: Lecture Outline

Key Learning Objectives

  • Understanding correlational design:

    • Definition and terminology.

    • Identifying benefits and limitations.

    • Methods employed:

      • Observation.

      • Survey/Questionnaire research.

    • Ensuring reliability and validity in correlational research.

Page 3: Understanding Correlational Design

Definition

  • Correlational design involves data collection without manipulating variables.

  • Alternative names include:

    • Non-manipulation.

    • Correlational Survey study.

    • Observational study.

    • Non-experimental design.

Page 4: Purpose of Correlational Design

Applications

  • Explore relationships in various contexts:

    • Relationship between advertisement spending and profit.

    • Connection between physical activity levels and depression severity.

    • Correlation between impulsive behavior scores and juvenile criminal offenses.

Objectives of Correlational Design

  • Investigate whether variables are related.

  • Determine if a change in one variable relates to a change in another.

  • Understand the co-varying behaviors of variables.

Page 5: When to Use Correlational Design

Situations for Application

  • Ethical constraints prevent variable manipulation.

  • Interest in managing multiple variables outside a laboratory environment.

  • Exploration of natural data trends for ecological validity.

  • Evaluating the relative influence of correlated variables.

  • Refining variables in questionnaire design.

Page 6: Additional Examples of Correlational Design

Practical Scenarios

  • Assessing the effectiveness of varying lectures by different educators through student exams.

  • Observational study of children's playtime and self-rated happiness.

  • Analyzing the effect of caffeine on attention levels.

  • Measuring the relationship between ice cream sales and summer tourism in Aberystwyth.

Page 7: Limitations of Correlational Design

Key Limitations

  • Correlation does not imply causation.

  • Presence of potential confounding variables affecting relationships (Third variable problem).

  • Emphasis on experimental designs for determining causal relationships.

Examples of Limitations

  • Correlation classifications: aggression, personality traits, video gaming.

Page 8: Challenges in Correlational Analysis

Considerations

  • Researcher bias in interpreting data patterns.

  • Illogical patterns may emerge, complicating meaningful outcomes.

Page 9: Types of Correlational Methods

Research Approaches

  • Types of correlation methods include:

    • Observation.

    • Surveys/Questionnaires.

    • Analysis of existing secondary data.

Page 10: Observational Research

Observational Techniques

  • Observing behavior in natural environments.

  • Different approaches:

    • Naturalistic observation: maintain distance or covert observation.

    • Participant observation: active involvement requiring consent.

Page 11: Reflection on Observation Task

Key Questions

  • What did you observe?

  • Important observational aspects:

    • Observational method (yes/no or counts).

    • Comparability of observations.

    • Defining subjective experiences (e.g., smile, aggression).

Page 12: Challenges of Observation

Defining Observational Challenges

  • Managing behavior definitions for observation.

  • Unstructured vs. structured observation:

    • Unstructured: descriptive, hard to analyze.

    • Structured: checklist or specific counts for clarity.

Page 13: Reliability and Validity in Research

Ensuring Effective Measurement

  • Reliability: Stability and consistency of measures.

  • Validity: Effectiveness in measuring the intended variable.

Page 14: Enhancing Reliability and Validity of Observation

Strategies

  • Increasing reliability by having multiple observers (Inter-rater reliability).

  • Validity enhanced through comprehensive research of target behaviors.

Page 15: Questionnaire Research

Importance of Questionnaires

  • Effective tool for assessing beliefs, opinions, and attitudes.

  • Development of questionnaires requires thorough research for optimal reliability and validity.

  • Standardized questionnaires are preferable when available.

Page 16: Benefits of Questionnaires

Advantages

  • Quick and cost-effective method of data collection.

  • Ability to reach large samples for a broad spectrum of responses.

  • Responses are straightforward to code and analyze.

Page 17: Challenges of Questionnaires

Limitations

  • Limited response options may restrict depth of data.

  • Risk of response bias complicates data accuracy.

Page 18: Sampling Considerations

Critical Sampling Factors

  • Define target response group carefully.

  • Prevent sampling bias due to time and location.

  • Ensure comprehension of questions by participants.

  • Check for honesty in responses to minimize measurement error.

Page 19: Assessing Reliability and Validity of Questionnaires

Reliability and Validity Measures

  • Reliability:

    • Internal consistency tests (correlation of similar variable questions).

    • Test-retest consistency over time.

  • Validity:

    • Participants’ understanding of what is being measured.

    • Expert judgment on accuracy of measurement.

    • Correlate findings with similar measure outcomes.

Page 20: Analyzing Correlational Data

Statistical Methods

  • Chi-square tests for categorical data associations.

  • Pearson correlation for parametric data relationships.

  • Spearman correlation for non-parametric data relationships.

  • Regression analysis for examining predictions based on correlations.

Page 21: Summary

Key Takeaways

  • Correlational design allows exploration of variable relationships without manipulation.

  • Core methods include observation, surveys/questionnaires, and existing data analysis.

  • Data types influence statistical analyses based on specific research questions.