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Correlational Research Design

Correlational research assesses the statistical relationship between two variables without manipulating any variables. Researchers conducting correlational studies do not aim to determine causation. This type of non-experimental research simply observes and measures two variables to analyze their correlation. Common correlational research methods include surveys, observational studies, and analyzing existing data sets.

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31 views

Correlational Research Design

Correlational research assesses the statistical relationship between two variables without manipulating any variables. Researchers conducting correlational studies do not aim to determine causation. This type of non-experimental research simply observes and measures two variables to analyze their correlation. Common correlational research methods include surveys, observational studies, and analyzing existing data sets.

Uploaded by

HAIQA SHOAIB DINAR
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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CORRELATIONAL

RESEARCH DESIGN
Correlational research is a type of non-experimental research in
which the researcher measures two variables and assesses the
statistical relationship (i.e., the correlation) between them with
little or no effort to control extraneous variables.

There are essentially two reasons that researchers interested in


statistical relationships between variables would choose to
conduct a correlational study rather than an experiment.

The first is that they do not believe that the statistical


relationship is a causal one
•Correlational research involves measuring two variables and
assessing the relationship between them, with no manipulation of an
independent variable.

•Correlational research is not defined by where or how the data are


collected. However, some approaches to data collection are strongly
associated with correlational research.

•These include naturalistic observation (in which researchers observe


people’s behavior in the context in which it normally occurs) and the
use of archival data that were already collected for some other
purpose.
Correlational Research
✖ investigates relationships between variables
without the researcher controlling or
manipulating any of them. 
✖ Non-experimental design
✖ A correlation reflects the strength and/or direction
of the relationship between two (or more)
variables.
Correlational Research Types
There are three types of Correlational Research Design:
•Positive Correlational
•Negative Correlational
•No correlation

Positive Correlational
Positive correlational research means that as one variable increases, the other
variable also increases.
Example:
If there is a positive correlation between study habits and grades, it means that
students who study more tend to get better grades.
✖ Negative Correlational
✖ Negative correlational research means that as one variable increases,
the other variable decreases.
✖ Example
✖ If there is a negative correlation between smoking and lifespan, it
means that people who smoke tend to live shorter lives than those who
don’t smoke.

✖ No correlation
✖ It indicates that there is no relationship between the two variables.
Structure of Correlational Design
✖ Two or more measurements
✖ It establish the extend to which two variables are related
✖ Change in one predicts the change in other
✖ Correlation co-efficient (-1 to +1) – statistic to measure
strength and direction of relationship
Collection Methods
Correlational Data Can be gathered in the following ways:
•Surveys
•Observational Data
•Existing Data Sets

 Surveys
Surveys can be administered in person, over the phone, or online. They typically ask
questions about people’s opinions, beliefs, or behaviors.

 Observational Data
This involves observing people in their natural environment and taking note of their
behavior.

 Existing Data Sets


This could involve looking at data from previous studies or from administrative records.
Correlational Research Data Analysis Methods
Some common methods include:
•Pearson’s correlation coefficient
•Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient
•Kendall’s tau

 Pearson’s correlation coefficient


This measures the strength of the linear relationship between two variables.
 Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient
This measures the strength of the relationship between two variables when there
is no linear relationship.
 Kendall’s tau
This measures the strength of the relationship between two variables when there
is no linear or monotonic relationship.
Correlational Research Example

•One example of correlational research would be a study looking at the relationship


between people’s level of income and their level of happiness. The researcher in this
study would simply observe and measure both income and happiness levels, without
manipulating either variable.

•Another example of correlational research would be a study looking at the


relationship between how much television people watch and how obese they are.
What does a linear relationship mean?
The meaning of a linear relationship is the constant connection between
two variables. These two variables will create a straight line when graphed.

What is a linear relation example?


An example of a linear relationship is the number of hours worked
compared to the amount of money earned. The number of hours would be
the independent variable and the money earned would be the dependent
variable. The amount of money earned depends on the number of hours
worked.

What is a linear and a nonlinear association?


A linear association shows or explains a relationship between two variables
that remains fairly the same. A nonlinear association does not have a
constant relationship between its two variables.
How can you tell if a relationship is linear?
A way to tell if a relationship is linear is to graph it. If the
relationship creates a straight line then it is linear.

What is a linear association in a scatter plot?


A linear association in a scatter plot explains that the data given,
even though not in an absolute line, resembles a straight line. The
data appears to follow the trend of a straight line.
Correlation Co-efficient
✖ Pearson correlation coefficient – direction and strength
✖ Covariance – extended to which value of two vary together
Limitations
✖ Reverse Causality – when direction cannot be figured out (A can effect B or B can
effect A)
✖ Four Possibilities in interpretation
○ Increase in A can cause decrease in B ( cant be ruled out)
○ Decrease in B can cause increase in A (cant be ruled out)
○ A & B can work together to the cause of change
○ Changes in A & B are due to a third unanticipated confounding variable
✖ Outliers – score that falls substantially above or below the other points of data
✖ Restriction of range – range measured in sample is smaller than the range in
population
Correlation, Regression and
Prediction
✖ Linear regression – statistical tool
✖ Predictor – variable with known values to determine value of
another variable
✖ Criterion variable – value to be predicted

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