Virgi Marlany

Terminology
• Correlation: Degree of Association between two
variable
• Correlation Coefficient (r) : a measure of
Direction and strength of linear relationship
among variables
• Correlation Coefficient Range -1 to +1
+ 1 means perfect positive relationship
-1 means perfect negative relationship
0 means no relationship
 Key characteristics of Correlational
Design
• As suggested by the explanatory and prediction
designs, correlation research includes
specific characteristics:
◆ Displays of scores (scatterplots )
• ◆ Associations between scores
• Direction (positive or negative)
• Form (linear or non-linear)
• Degree and strength (size of coefficient)
,
 Scatterplots
• Researchers plot scores for two variables on a
graph to provide a visual picture of the form
of the scores. This allows researchers to
identify the type of association among
variables and locate extreme scores. Most
importantly, this plot can provide useful
information about the form of the
association—whether the scores are linear
(follow a straight)
 Displays of scores in a Scatterplot
Hours of
Internet Depression Depression scores
use scores Y=D.V.
per week from 15-45 50
Laura 17 30 -
Chad 13 41 40
Patricia 5 18
Bill 9 20 30 M +
Mary 5 25
Todd 15 44
20
Angela 7 20
David 6 30
+ -
10 M
Maxine 2 17
John 18 48 5 10 15 20
Mean Score 10 29.3
Hours of Internet Use
X=I.V.
Educational Research 2e:
Creswell
 Associations between two scores
• Direction (positive or negative)
• Form (linear or non-linear)
• Degree and strength (size of coefficient)

Educational Research 2e:

Creswell
 Direction of Association
When examining a graph, it is important to identify
if the points intersect, or move in the same or
opposite directions. In a positive correlation
(indicated by a “1” correlation coefficient) the
points move in the same direction; that is, when
X increases, so does Y or, alternatively, if X
decreases, so does Y. In a negative correlation
(indicated by a “–” correlation coefficient), the
points move in the opposite direction; that is,
when X increases, Y decreases, and when X
decreases, Y increases. If scores on one variable
do not relate in any pattern on the other variable,
then no linear association exists.
 Association Between Two Scores Linear and
non-linear patterns

A. Positive Linear (r=+.75) B. Negative Linear (r=-.68)

C. No Correlation
(r=.00)

Educational Research 2e:

Creswell
 Degree and Strength Association
• Degree of association means that the association
between two variables or sets of scores is a correlation
coefficient of –1.00 to +1.00, with 0.00 indicating no
linear association at all. This association between two
sets of scores reflects whether there is a consistent,
predictable association between the scores
Correlational researchers interpret the magnitude and
direction of the correlations. With numbers indicating
strength and valence signs indicating direction (+1.00
to –1.00), the statistic provides a measure of the
magnitude of the relationship between two variables.
Strong weak correlation