Question 1

If there is a strong correlation between variables A and B, what is the most likely explanation?

Accepted Answer

The correlation by itself does not allow one to decide the direction of causality, or whether there is a third variable causing both A and B. Therefore, any of the above options could be the explanation for a strong correlation between variables A and B.

Question 2

Correlational research is useful for

Accepted Answer

Correlational research is useful for making predictions about the relationships between variables, but it cannot establish causal relationships or manipulate independent variables. Factorial-type designs are experimental designs, not correlational designs.

Question 3

Ed took a Civil Service Test and was subsequently hired by the Post Office, where he performed well. The Civil Service Test was used because

Accepted Answer

The Civil Service Test was used because it had been shown to be an effective predictor variable, meaning that it had a strong correlation with job performance.

Question 4

If there is a strong relationship between variable A and variable B, it could be that A is causing B to occur, but it could also be that B is causing A to occur. This is known as the

Accepted Answer

The directionality problem refers to the difficulty in determining the causal direction of a relationship between variables. It is uncertain whether A is causing B or vice versa. This is a common issue in correlational studies where causality cannot be established.

Question 5

A study using a ________ helps to solve the directionality problem.

Accepted Answer

A cross-lagged panel correlation helps to determine the direction of causality between two variables by measuring how changes in one variable are related to subsequent changes in the other variable over time.

Question 6

A study using a cross-lagged panel correlation helps to solve the _______ problem.

Accepted Answer

The cross-lagged panel correlation helps to solve the directionality problem, which refers to the difficulty in determining whether the relationship between two variables is casual or if the causality works in the opposite direction. It does not directly address third variable or restriction of range problems and is not necessarily a form of multiple regression.

Question 7

Galton believed that the high correlation between the intelligence levels of parents and children proved that intelligence was inherited. This conclusion illustrates a failure to understand

Accepted Answer

Galton's conclusion fails to consider the third variable problem, which suggests that a correlation between two variables might be influenced by an unaccounted third variable, such as environmental factors, rather than a direct causal relationship.

Question 8

45.	In their cross-lagged panel correlational study, Eron and his colleagues found that

Accepted Answer

Eron and his colleagues found that the children's preference for viewing violence at age 8 predicted their aggressive behavior at age 19, suggesting that exposure to media violence may lead to an increase in aggression over time.

Question 9

A researcher discovers a correlation of +.87 between study time and GPA. What can be concluded?

Accepted Answer

The correlation coefficient of +.87 indicates a strong positive correlation between study time and GPA. This means that as study time increases, GPA tends to increase as well. However, it is important to note that correlation does not necessarily prove causation, so it cannot be conclusively stated that studying more causes a higher GPA. It is also possible that other factors such as natural ability or motivation could be contributing to the observed correlation.

Question 10

The coefficient of determination

Accepted Answer

The coefficient of determination (r²) is always a positive number between 0 and 1, indicating the proportion of variance in one variable that can be explained by the variance in the other variable. It cannot be negative because it represents the square of the correlation coefficient (r), which is always positive or zero.

Option B is incorrect because the coefficient of determination does not solve the directionality problem. Correlation does not imply causation, and the coefficient of determination only indicates the strength of the linear relationship between two variables, not the direction or causality of the relationship.

Option C is incorrect for the same reason. The coefficient of determination cannot enable conclusions about cause and effect in correlational studies. It is only a measure of the strength of the linear association between two variables, not a test of causality or direction of the relationship.

Option D is incorrect because the coefficient of determination (r²) is always less than or equal to the value for the correlation coefficient (r) in magnitude. The square of a number between 0 and 1 is always smaller than the number itself.

Question 11

Suppose you investigate the relationship between college grades and time spent on Facebook and discover that the correlation is -.71. What does this tell you?

Accepted Answer

The negative correlation coefficient (-.71) indicates an inverse relationship between time spent on Facebook and college grades, i.e., as time spent on Facebook increases, grades tend to decrease. Therefore, longer times spent on Facebook are related to lower grades.

Question 12

Eron and his colleagues were able to show that TV viewing preferences were related to aggressiveness ten years later. What procedure did they use?

Accepted Answer

The procedure used was cross-lagged panel correlation, which assesses the associations between variables at different time points and can help determine causal relationships between variables over time.

Question 13

Suppose the correlation between IQ at age 5 and elementary school performance is +.4, and the correlation between SAT performance and college grades is +.3. The difference in these relationships is most likely due to the fact that

Accepted Answer

The second relationship has a more restricted range of scores as the SAT is taken only by college-bound students who are a select group, whereas elementary school performance is measured across the general population. This restriction in range reduces the strength of the correlation. Additionally, the SAT-college grade relationship is affected by several intervening variables that are not present in the IQ-elementary school performance relationship, such as motivation, study habits, and teacher quality, which further weaken the correlation.

Question 14

A regression equation is used for

Accepted Answer

A regression equation is used to predict the value of a dependent variable based on the value of an independent variable or predictor variable. It helps to understand the relationship between the two variables and make predictions about the dependent variable given the value of the independent variable.

Question 15

A study using a partial correlation helps to solve the _______ problem.

Accepted Answer

Partial correlation helps to control for the influence of a third variable, allowing for a more accurate assessment of the relationship between two variables.

Question 16

If a researcher is trying to predict college grades, knowing high school grades, then

Accepted Answer

The answer of If a researcher is trying to predict...

Question 17

A researcher discovers a strong correlation between the number of hours spent watching TV and the level of aggression shown at school. What can be concluded?

Accepted Answer

The answer of A researcher discovers a strong correlation between...

Question 18

A study using a ________ helps to solve the third variable problem.

Accepted Answer

A partial correlation analysis helps to address the third variable problem by statistically controlling for one or more potentially confounding variables that may be related to both the predictor and outcome variables. This allows for a clearer understanding of the relationship between the predictor and outcome variables, independent of any third variables that may be influencing the relationship. The other answer choices, while useful in other contexts, do not specifically address the third variable problem.

Question 19

By using a __________ procedure, Eron and his colleagues were able to rule out several potential third variables that might have affected the relationship they found between preference for TV violence and aggressiveness.

Accepted Answer

Partial correlation is the best choice as it allows researchers to control for the influence of other variables on the relationship between two variables of interest. This would enable Eron and his colleagues to rule out several potential third variables that might have affected the relationship they found between preference for TV violence and aggressiveness. Cross-lagged panel correlation, multiple regression, and factor analysis are not suited to ruling out potential third variables in this way.

Question 20

Which of the following is true about a correlation of +.70 between variables A and B?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following is true about...

Quiz 9: Correlational Research