Correlational Research Method
Definition
Correlational research methods involve measuring two variables and analyzing how they relate to each other - whether they move together (positive correlation), move in opposite directions (negative correlation), or have no relationship (zero correlation).
Analogy
It's like watching two dancers on a stage. If they move in the same direction, it's a positive correlation. If one moves forward while the other moves backward, it's a negative correlation. And if their movements seem unrelated, that’s zero correlation.
Related terms
Scatterplot: A graph used to display data from a correlational study. Each dot represents an individual data point.
Coefficient of Correlation: A statistical measure that calculates the strength and direction of the relationship between two variables.
Spurious Correlation: This is when two variables appear to be related but are actually influenced by another variable or coincidence – like noticing more ice cream sales and more sunburns in summer, but not realizing both are caused by hotter weather.
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