Download Correlation v

Konter
Sociology
Correlation v. Causal relationships: What are scientists looking for?
Psychology is the study of human behavior, but studying human behavior can be tricky. Ideally,
scientists discover a causal relationship between variables, but often times, they can only
identify a correlation.
First, the terms:
Causal Relationship (AKA Cause and effect relationship): When one variable causes a change in
the second variable; When a cause-and-effect relationship occurs, the researcher can make
predictions
Correlation: means that two or more variables are related.
Positive Correlation: A relationship between variables that exists when the value of one
variable increases along with the value of another value (both variables increase)
Negative correlation: A relationship between variables that exists when the value of one
variable increases while the value of another variable decreases
Strong correlation: a strong relationship
Weak correlation: a weak relationship
Spurious Relationship: A relationship appears to exist between two variables, but that
relationship disappears when another variable is considered.
Now, the application.
Part 1. Identify whether a causal or corollary relationship is being described in each scenario.
Explain your identification (What makes causal? What makes it a corollary?). IF you believe that
the scenario is a correlation, then identify one variable that can make the relationship spurious.
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Cigarette smoking leads to lung cancer.
Attending better quality schools ensures a higher income.
There is a relationship between viewing violence on television and violent behavioral
patterns.
People that earn more money have more happiness in life.
People who have strong social ties with others are less likely to attempt suicide during
their lifetime.
Greater population density leads to mental problems
Women work to help increase family income.
Juvenile delinquency is more common amongst young people who live in crowded living
conditions.
People who complete a degree in higher education earn higher wages later in life.
As a person gains weight, their health tends to decline.
Part 2. Identify whether the scenarios below are describing a positive or negative correlation.
Explain why it is positive or negative and identify one change that would reverse the
relationship.
Konter
Sociology
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Students with high grade point averages in high school will have high grade point
averages in college.
Students who are often absent from school will have lower grades.
SAT scores and college achievement—among college students, those with higher SAT
scores also have higher grades
Happiness and helpfulness—as people’s happiness level increases, so does their
helpfulness (conversely, as people’s happiness level decreases, so does their
helpfulness)
Crying and being held—among babies, those who are held more tend to cry less (or
phrased as babies who are held less tend to cry more)
People who have strong social ties with others are less likely to attempt suicide during
their lifetime.