PSYCO104 Lecture 6: correlations, experimental method, reliability and validity, in lab vs in field, descriptive statistics
20 Jan 2019
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Correlational research focuses on the relationship between two variables and to use one variable to predict the other. Having the correlation value closer to +1 allows the predictions to be more confidently made. Correlation is not based on a cause and effect situation. The relationship between the two variables doesn"t imply a cause and effect relationship. Correlational is important because it is used when there are variables that can not be ethically controlled. A directionality problem is when one variable directly affects another and vice versa. A third variable problem is when you have your two variables, there is a third variable used to connect the initial and secondary variable. An example of a third variable problem would be if a positive correlation was found between average tv consumption in children and the amount of violent behaviour reported. Just because there is a positive correlation does not mean that they have directly influence one another.
