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Correlational Research

Correlational research investigates relationships between variables without implying causation. It can be used for explanatory or predictive purposes. Researchers use correlation analysis to quantify relationships between variables and regression analysis to predict changes in one variable based on another. While correlational research provides insights, it has weaknesses like an inability to determine direction of influence and susceptibility to hidden third variables.

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Eden Mae P. Cabale
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106 views19 pages

Correlational Research

Correlational research investigates relationships between variables without implying causation. It can be used for explanatory or predictive purposes. Researchers use correlation analysis to quantify relationships between variables and regression analysis to predict changes in one variable based on another. While correlational research provides insights, it has weaknesses like an inability to determine direction of influence and susceptibility to hidden third variables.

Uploaded by

Eden Mae P. Cabale
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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
Correlational Research
 An approach to research that involves measuring
different variables whether there is a predictable
relation among variables.
 correlational studies investigate the possibility of
relationships between two variables.
 When a correlation is found to exist between two
variables, it means that scores within a certain
range on the other variable.
PURPOSES OF CORRELATIONAL
RESEARCH:

1.EXPLANATORY STUDIES
 A major purpose of correlational
research is to clarify our understanding
of important phenomena by identifying
relationships among variables.
Prediction Studies
 If a relationship of sufficient magnitude exists between
two variables, it becomes possible to predict a score on
one variable if a score on the other variable is known.
Example: High school grades are highly related to college
grades.

 Predictor Variable- variable that is used to make


prediction.
High score grades
 Criterion Variable- variable about which the prediction is
made.
College grades
When to use correlational
research?
1. To investigate non-causal relationships
You want to find out if there is an association
between two variables, but you don’t expect to find a
causal relationship between them.
Correlational research can provide insights into
complex real-world relationships, helping researchers
develop theories and make predictions.
Example:
You want to know if there is any correlation
between the number of children people have
and which political party they vote for. You
don’t think having more children causes
people to vote differently — it’s more likely
that both are influenced by other variables
such as age, religion, ideology and
socioeconomic status. But a strong
correlation could be useful for making
predictions about voting patterns.
2.To test new measurement tools.
You have developed a new instrument for
measuring your variable, and you need to test
its reliability or validity.
Correlational research can be used to assess
whether a tool consistently or accurately
captures the concept it aims to measure.
Example:
You develop a new scale to measure
loneliness in young children based on
anecdotal evidence during lockdowns. To
validate this scale, you need to test whether
it’s actually measuring loneliness. You collect
data on loneliness using three different
measures, including the new scale, and test
the degrees of correlations between the
different measurements. Finding high
correlations means that your scale is valid.
How to analyze
correlational data?
After collecting data, you can
statistically analyze the relationship
between variables using correlation
or regression analyses, or both. 
Correlation analysis
 Using a correlation analysis, you can summarize the
relationship between variables into a correlation coefficient
: a single number that describes the strength and direction of
the relationship between variables. With this number, you’ll
quantify the degree of the relationship between variables.
 The Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient, also
known as Pearson’s r, is commonly used for assessing a linear
relationship between two quantitative variables.
 Correlationcoefficients are usually found for two variables at
a time, but you can use a multiple correlation coefficient for
three or more variables.
Regression analysis
 Witha regression analysis, you can predict how much
a change in one variable will be associated with a
change in the other variable. The result is
a regression equation that describes the line on a
graph of your variables.
 You can use this equation to predict the value of one
variable based on the given value(s) of the other
variable(s). It’s best to perform a regression analysis
after testing for a correlation between your variables.
Weaknesses of Correlation:

1.Directionality problem
 If two variables are correlated, it could be
because one of them is a cause and the other
is an effect. But the correlational research
design doesn’t allow you to infer which is
which. To err on the side of caution,
researchers don’t conclude causality from
correlational studies
 Example:

You find a positive correlation between vitamin D levels


and depression: people with low vitamin D levels are
more likely to have depression. But you can’t be certain
about whether having low vitamin D levels causes
depression, or whether having depression causes
reduced intakes of vitamin D through lifestyle or
appetite changes. Therefore, you can only conclude
that there is a relationship between these two
variables.
2. Third-variable problem

 Influences other variables to make them seem


causally related even though they are not. Instead,
there are separate causal links between the
confounder and each variable.
 Incorrelational research, there’s limited or no
researcher control over extraneous variables. Even if
you statistically control for some potential
confounders, there may still be other hidden variables
that disguise the relationship between your study
variables.
Example:
You find a strong positive correlation between
working hours and work-related stress: people with
lower working hours report lower levels of work-
related stress. However, this doesn’t prove that
lower working hours causes a reduction in stress.
There are many other variables that may influence
both variables, such as average income, working
conditions, and job insecurity. You might
statistically control for these variables, but you
can’t say for certain that lower working hours
reduce stress because other variables may
complicate the relationship.
CORRELATION COEFFICIENTS AND
THEIR MEANING
Table 15:
The Relationship between the Level of Effectiveness of
DepEd’s Strategic Intervention Materials in Mathematics
and Level of Teachers’ Proficiency 
THANK YOU !!!!!

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