Name: Kepin Ross

NIM: 2017.111.040

Class 6A

Task 7

1. Which type of relationship would a researcher be more pleased to have the results of a
study reveals-positive or negative- or would it matter? Explain.
2. What is the difference between an effect and a relationship? Which is more important, or
can this be determined?
3. Are there any types of instruments that could not be in a correlational study? If so, why?
4. Would it be possible for a correlation to be statistically significant yet educationally
insignificant? If so, give an example.
5. Why do you suppose people often interpret correlational result as proving causation?
6. What is the difference, if any, between the sign of a correlation and the strength of a
correlation?
7. “correlational studies, in and of themselves, do not establish cause and effect” is this
true? Why or why not?
8. “the possibility of causation (in a correlation study) is strengthened if a time lapse occurs
between measurement of the variables being studied.” Why?
9. To interpret correlation coefficients sensibly, it is a good idea to show the scatterplots on
which they are based. Why is this true? Explain.

Answer

1. It would depend on the particular research study. The researcher would want to see a
positive relationship in some studies, while in other studies the researcher would be
looking for a negative relationship.
2. Relationship is assessed by Regression to predict the dependent variable when the
independent variable is known as it has prediction capability. Meanwhile an effect refers
to an estimate from a model, such as a regression.
3. I don’t think there are instruments that could not be in a correlational study.
4. Yes. A correlation of .05 might be statistically significant if the n was large enough yet
would be educationally meaningless.
5. I think the idea that “correlational result as proving causation” is an example of a
questionable-cause logical fallacy, in which two events occurring together are taken to
have established a cause-and-effect relationship. As with any logical fallacy, identifying
that the reasoning behind an argument is flawed does not necessarily imply that the
resulting conclusion is false. Methods have been proposed that the use correlation as the
basis for hypothesis tests for causality, including the Granger causality test and
convergent cross mapping.
6. The sign of correlation is symbolized by + and – (positive and negative). While the
strength of a correlation refers to the degree of intensity of the relationship: the higher the
correlation, the stronger it is, regardless of sign.
7. Yes, this is true. The effect may be the result of some third factor. However,
correlational studies may be a step in the search for causes.
8. A time lapse between measurement of variables being studied may show possible
causation if the results show consistency over time.
9. Once a scatterplot has been constructed, a straight line, known as a regression line, can be
calculated mathematically. The researcher can then use the line as a basis for prediction.
Being able to predict a score for an individual or group on one variable from knowing the
individual’s or group’s score on another variable can be extremely useful.