The Correlational

Approach
MSA
Introduction

 There are several types of research studies.

 All research studies can be classified under
two main categories: the qualitative versus the
quantitative.

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Introduction
 The qualitative approach involves the
collection of narrative data in order to gain
insights into a phenomenon of interest; data
analysis includes the coding of the data and
production of verbal synthesis (inductive
process).
e.g. Historical Research
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Introduction

 The quantitative approaches involve the

collection of numerical data in order to
explain, predict and/or control a phenomenon
of interest; data analysis is mainly statistical
(deductive process).

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Introduction

 Such as:
-The Correlational Research
-The Experimental Research

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The Correlational Research

Definition:
 The correlational research attempts to
determine whether and to what degree, a
relationship exists between two or more
quantifiable (numerical) variables.

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The Correlational Research

 You collect data on at least two variables for

the same group of subjects and then calculate a
correlation coefficient between the two
variables.

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What is a Correlation Coefficient?

A correlation coefficient is a number between

-1 and 1 which measures the degree to which
two variables are linearly related.
 It is represented by the letter (r).

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What is a Correlation Coefficient?

 If there is perfect linear relationship with positive

slope between the two variables, we have a
correlation coefficient of 1.
r=1
 If there is positive correlation, whenever one
variable has a high (low) value, so does the other.

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What is a Correlation Coefficient?
 If there is a perfect linear relationship with
negative slope between the two variables, we
have a correlation coefficient of -1.
r = -1
 If there is negative correlation, whenever one
variable has a high (low) value, the other has a
low (high) value.

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What is a Correlation Coefficient?

 A correlation coefficient of 0 means that there is

no linear relationship between the variables
(null).
r=0

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What is a Correlation Coefficient?

 To understand what is a correlation

coefficient, follow these links and move the
curser:
http://noppa5.pc.helsinki.fi/koe/flash/corr/corrx2-en.html
http://noppa5.pc.helsinki.fi/koe/corr/cor7a/cor7a.html

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What is a variable?

Variable: a defined characteristic that varies; it

has at least two values and usually more.
 For example, anxiety about writing in a second
language is a variable, because it varies across
students.

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What is a measure?

 To assign a value to the degree of anxiety that

students feel, they are given a test (measure)
of writing anxiety.

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Examples of Correlational Research
 The relationship between intelligence and self-
esteem
 The relationship between anxiety and
achievement
 The relationship between using an aptitude test
and predicting success in an algebra course
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Examples of Correlational Research
 A group of high school students took two tests
that required them to solve analogies to
recognize antonyms (relationship).
 The researchers discovered a correlation
between students’ abilities to complete
analogies correctly and to identify antonyms.
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Examples of Correlational Research
 In general, students who were good at one task
were also good at the other; students weak in
one task were weak in the other.

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An Important Note

In correlational research, no attempt is made to

state that one thing causes another, only that
one thing (one variable) is predictable from
the other.

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Validity
 A measure (test) is valid if it measures what it is
intended to measure.
 To demonstrate the validity of a test we want to
show that scores on the test correlate highly with
some external measure of what the test
purportedly measures.
 This external measure is referred to as the
criterion.
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Reliability

 The reliability of a measure refers to the

accuracy or consistency of the measurement.
 There are many sources of error that can
reduce the accuracy of measurements.

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Reliability
 In such cases, it is important to provide
evidence that the observations or ratings are
reliable.
 This is accomplished by determining
interrater reliability, sometimes called
interobserver reliability or interjudge
reliability.

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Reliability
 To do this, two or more persons rate the same
phenomenon.
 Their ratings are then compared to see how
well they agree with one another.

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Recap
The Qualitative & Quantitative approaches
The definition of the correlational research
The definition of the correlational coefficient: Positive,
Negative & Null
What is a variable?
What is a measure?
The validity & reliability of a correlational research

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