Correlational Research

This research method is a measure of the extent to which two variables change together, and thus of how well either variable predicts the other

• Correlational
• Experiments
• Case Study
• Survey
• Naturalistic observation

In correlational research, it is important NOT to imply a __________________________ between two correlated variables.

• causation

• prediction

• relationship

• difference

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

• As temperature increases, ice cream sales increase

• As exercise increases, weight decreases

• As study time decreases, grades decrease

• Increased social media use causes higher levels of anxiety

The positive correlation between shark attacks and ice cream sales can be explained by the fact that both tend to occur during the summer. This is an example of how ______________illustrates that correlation does not equal causation.

• the social desirability bias

• the third variable effect

• directionality

• the regression toward the mean

In terms of correlation coefficients, a perfect negative correlation is ________.

• 0

• -1

• +1

• Undefined

A correlation coefficient of +.80 is a _______________ and suggests that as one variable ____________, the other variable ______________.

• strong positive | increases | increases
• weak positive | increases | increases
• strong positive | increases | decreases
• weak positive | increases | decreases

What kind of relationship is represented by the scatterplot?

• A strong positive correlation

• A strong negative correlation

• A weak negative correlation

• No relationship

What is an illusory correlation?

• The perception of a relationship where none exists

• The perception of a relationship that is statistically proven

• The perception of a relationship based on strong evidence

• The perception of a relationship that is always accurate

How might a failure to recognize regression toward the mean influence human behavior/thinking?

• People might make incorrect assumptions about the causes of extreme events

• People will always understand the causes of events

• People will ignore extreme events

• People will predict events accurately

Variable 1: Amount of fried chicken eaten (in ounces)

Variable 2: Feelings of fullness (self-assessed on a 1-10 scale)

Between these two variables, there is probably

• a positive correlation

• a negative correlation

• no correlation

• an illusory correlation

Answer explanation

Illusory = It SEEMS like there's a correlation, but there isn't really (an illusion).