Correlation Review

What does a correlation coefficient measure?

• The strength and direction of the relationship between two variables

• The independent variable in a research study

• The dependent variable in a research study

• The causal relationship between two variables

What is the range of possible values for a correlation coefficient?

• -1 to 1

• 0 to +1

• -1 to 0

• 0 to 100

What can we conclude from correlational research?

• That one variable predicts another variable

• That two variables are related in some way

• That one variable causes another variable

• That two variables cause a third variable

What is the difference between a positive correlation and a negative correlation?

• A positive correlation means that as one variable increases, the other variable decreases, while a negative correlation means that as one variable increases, the other variable also increases

• A positive correlation means that there is no relationship between the two variables, while a negative correlation means that there is a relationship between the two variables

• A positive correlation means that both variables are independent, while a negative correlation means that both variables are dependent

• A positive correlation means that as one variable increases, the other variable also increases, while a negative correlation means that as one variable increases, the other variable decreases

As loneliness decreases, happiness increases. This is an example of a ________ correlation.

• positive

• negative

• neutral

• curvilinear

Which of the following is an example of a negative correlation?

• As ice cream sales increase, so do the number of drownings in a city

• As the temperature drops, the number of people visiting the beach decreases

• As a person's income increases, their likelihood of experiencing depression decreases

• As a person's level of anxiety decreases, their level of stress also decreases

Which of the following correlation coefficients represents the strongest relationship between two variables?

• r = -0.20

• r = 0.50

• r = -0.90

• r = -0.70

Which of the following is a potential issue when interpreting the results of a correlation study?

• Correlations always imply causation

• The correlation coefficient cannot distinguish between a causal relationship and a non-causal relationship

• The presence of a third variable is irrelevant when interpreting correlation results

• A correlation coefficient of zero always implies no relationship between the two variables

Why is it important to consider the possibility of a third variable when interpreting correlation results?

• A third variable can explain the relationship between two variables without implying a causal relationship

• A third variable is always the cause of the relationship between two variables

• Correlations are always evidence of causation, but a third variable can obscure the causal relationship

• The presence of a third variable makes it impossible to interpret correlation results

Which of the following is an example of a spurious correlation?

• Margarine consumption and divorce rate both increase as a country develops economically

• The amount of sleep a person gets and their level of happiness

• The number of hours a person spends watching TV and their level of physical fitness

• The amount of education a person receives and their income level