Practice Flashcards
Flip to reveal answersWhat is a correlational study?
Track your progress — Sign up free to save your progress and get smart review reminders based on spaced repetition.
All 10 Flashcards — Correlational studies
Sign up free to track progress and get spaced-repetition review schedules.
Question
What is a correlational study?
Answer
A method that measures the relationship between two variables without manipulating them.
Question
What is a positive correlation?
Answer
Both variables rise together (e.g. more study, higher grades).
Question
What is a negative correlation?
Answer
As one variable rises, the other falls (e.g. more screen time, less sleep).
Question
Why isn't correlation causation?
Answer
A third variable could drive both, or the causal arrow could run the other way.
Question
What is a third variable?
Answer
An unmeasured factor that drives both correlated variables (e.g. heat behind ice cream and drowning).
Question
One strength of correlational studies?
Answer
They can study variables that can't be manipulated (e.g. stress, trauma).
Question
One limitation of correlational studies?
Answer
They can't show cause and effect; open to third-variable and reverse-causation problems.
Question
How do correlations fit with experiments?
Answer
A correlation spots a pattern; an experiment can then test whether it's causal.
Question
Give an example of a spurious correlation.
Answer
Ice-cream sales and drowning rise together, both driven by hot weather.
Question
Which concept does it link to?
Answer
Causality — but cautiously: a correlation is a link, not a cause.
Read the notes
Full study notes for Correlational studies
Topic 2.4 hub
Research methodology
More from Topic 2.4
All flashcards in this topic
Psychology exam skills
Paper structures & tips
Track your progress with spaced repetition
Sign up free — Aimnova tells you exactly which cards to review and when, so you remember everything before your IB exam.
Start Free