Transcript Document

Chapter 5 – Correlational Research: Surveys
Zechmeister, J. S., Zechmeister, E. B., &
Shaughnessy, J. J. (2001). Essentials of
research methods in psychology. New
York: McGraw-Hill.
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Surveys -> Correlational Research
 Surveys
 Description: Describe people’s opinions, feelings, and
preferences
 Prediction: Predict what people are going to do.
 Correlational Research
 Assess relationships among naturally occurring
variables
Surveys
 Surveys amass the data which is then used to find
what the relationships are in the “naturally occurring
variables.”
Correlational Research
Researchers use correlational
research to assess relationships
among naturally occurring
variables and to make
predictions.
Correlational Coefficient
 The size of a correlation indicates the
strength of the predictive relationship.
±0.80 is considered a strong correlation
 -1.0 & +1.0 are perfect correlations
+1.0 Positive Correlation
-1.0 Negative Correlation
Introduction
 Correlation Coefficient
 Size – strength
-1.0 - +1.0 : perfect correlation
 Sign : direction
 Scatterplot
 Margin of Error

Measures in Correlational
Research
 Value of research depends on the quality of
measurements
 Questionnaires
 Demographic variables
 Preferences/Attitudes
 Self-Report Scales
Measures in Correlational
Research
Reliability – consistency
Test-retest
Internal consistency
Reliability Coefficient
Measures in Correlational
Research
 Validity
 Does it measure what says it does?
 Construct validity
Convergent validity
 Discriminant validity
 p. 122, Table 5.4 of our text
 Construct validity

Obtaining a Sample
 Samples are Used to Describe Populations
 Population
 Sample
 Representativeness
 Biased Sample
 Selection Bias
 Response Bias
Obtaining a Sample
 Nonprobability sampling
 Convenience sampling
 Probability sampling
 Simple random sampling
 Stratified random sampling
Survey Research Designs
 Cross-sectional design
 Successive independent samples design
 Longitudinal design
Thinking Critically About
Correlational Research
 Correlation
 Reactivity:
 Social Desirability