Lesson 2 Correlational Analysis Correlational Analysis This is

Correlational Analysis • This is a technique for analysing data. • It measures the

• Positive correlation means that as one variable increases the other variable increases

• The strength of a correlation can be between -1 and 1. •

Advantages • This technique does allow psychologists to establish the strength of the relationship

• This technique also allows researchers to investigate things that could not be

Disadvantages • Correlational analysis can not demonstrate cause and effect, we can not tell

• Correlation can only measure linear relationships and can not detect curvilinear relationships.

Ethical Issues • Data used in correlations is often collected without the people whose

• Informed consent can not be obtained and a participant cannot ask for

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Lesson 2: Correlational Analysis

Correlational Analysis • This is a technique for analysing data. • It measures the strength of the relationship between two quantitative variables.

• Positive correlation means that as one variable increases the other variable increases as well. • A negative correlation means that as one variable increases the other variable decreases.

• The strength of a correlation can be between -1 and 1. • 0 means that there is no correlation. • -1 means that there is a strong negative correlation. • 1 means that there is a strong positive correlation.

Advantages • This technique does allow psychologists to establish the strength of the relationship between two variables and measure it precisely.

• This technique also allows researchers to investigate things that could not be manipulated experimentally for ethical or practical reasons.

Disadvantages • Correlational analysis can not demonstrate cause and effect, we can not tell which variable influences the other. • It may be that a third unknown variable influences both.

• Correlation can only measure linear relationships and can not detect curvilinear relationships.

Ethical Issues • Data used in correlations is often collected without the people whose data it is being aware of it.

• Informed consent can not be obtained and a participant cannot ask for their data to not be used, which violates their right to withdraw. • In some cases this data may even have been given for confidential purposes.