SGDP6013

Correlational Design
Research Methods in
Education
Prepared for:

Prepared by:

Dr. Ruzlan Md. Ali

Abdullah Al-Mahmood
(805016)

Md. Abdur Rashid (805026)

Md. Shamsul Islam (805028)

Correlational Research
Design
Weighing One Variable
Against Another
Chapter 12

Topics to Be Discussed

Defines Correlational Research

When we use Correlational Research
Types of Correlational Design
The key characteristics of Correlational
Design
The steps in conducting a Correlational Study
How do we evaluate a Correlational Study

Correlational Research

A procedure in which subjects scores on two

variables are simply measured, without
manipulation of any variables, to determine
whether there is a relationship
Correlational research examines the
relationship between two or more non
manipulated variables.

Correlational Research

What is the relationship between:

1.
2.
3.

4.

Height and weight?

Birth order and years of education?
Cigarettes smoked per day and health care
costs?
How close to the front you sit in a classroom and
your grade in a class?

What can correlational

research tell us?

Imagine that researchers find an association

between sitting in the front of the classroom
and receiving good grades

You promptly move to the front of the

classroom, and expect your grade will
improve

Dont bet money on it

7

Correlation and Causality

With correlational research designs, causality

cannot be inferred
Example: Researchers want to investigate the
link between religious affiliation and alcohol
consumption*

They measure the number of bars and churches in

randomly-selected towns
# of Bars

# of Churches ?

* Example by Professor Kristi Lemm of Western Washington

8
University

Pitfalls of correlational research

designs

The researchers find that towns with more bars

also have more churches

Therefore, religious persons tend to drink

more, or perhaps alcohol consumption is a
reason people attend church
what is wrong with these
conclusions?

We cannot infer causation!

Larger towns tend to have more bars and

more churches. Therefore, a third (and more
likely) explanation:
# of Bars
Town
Population

# of Churches

10

Correlational Research
Operational Definition:
A statistical analysis of covariant data to
determine a pre-existing relationship. Researcher
makes no attempt to manipulate an independent
variable.

Purpose:
This research technique is used to relate two
or more variables and allow predictions of
outcomes based on causative relationships
between the variables
11

Correlational Research
Historical Perspective:
Karl Pearson introduced modern correlation
techniques in 1895 at a Royal Society
meeting in London where her illustrated his
statistical model using Darwins evolution and
Galtons heredity.
Improvements were slow coming until the
arrival of microcomputers when complex
regressional analysis of multiple variables
was possible
12

Correlational Research
Example Situation:
We, as teachers, practice correlation
research often in the forms of pre-tests,
quizzes, dip-sticking, etc., where we correlate
(based on years of experience) the outcome
of these assessments with anticipated final
test results. We will often modify our
teaching in response to the data to modify the
outcome.
13

Correlational Research
Design Models (Types)
Explanatory Design:
Research looks for simple associations
between variables and investigates the extent
to which the variables are related
Prediction Design:
Research designed to identify variables that
will positively predict outcomes
14

Explanatory Design Model

Key Characteristics of ERD
Correlation of two or more variables
Data collected at one time
Single group
At least two scores recorded
Correlation Statistical Test- Strength and
Direction of correlation determined
Researcher draws conclusions from statistics
alone
15

Prediction Design
Key Characteristics of PRD
Author states that prediction capability is the
goal of the research
Use of predictor variable followed with a
criterion variable
Author forecasts future performance

16

Key Characteristics of
Correlational Design
As suggested by the explanatory & prediction
design, CR includes specific characteristics:
Displays of scores (scatterplots & matrics)
Associations between scores (direction,
form, & strength)
Multiple variable analysis (partial correlation
& multiple regression)

17

Primary Tools for Correlation

Designs

Mathematical Tools

Product-Moment
correlation coefficient
Coefficient of
determination
Spearman rho
Phi-coefficient
Point-biserial correlation
Regression lines

Graphical Tools

Scatter plots
Correlation matrixes
Simple graphical
regressions
Venn Diagrams
18

Graphical Tools: Scatter

Plots

Scatter plots plot two variables against one

another to provide a visual picture of the
relationship between the variables.
(Warning-Connecting dots on a plot suggests
control over the IV and defines a particular
trend with outlying point being in error)
PowerPoint presentation
Of
Scatter Plots

Scatter Plots.ppt

19

Simple Scatter Plot: Direction of

Association
Hours of
Internet Depression
use
scores
per week from 15-45
Laura
Chad
Patricia
Bill
Mary
Todd
Angela
David
Maxine
John
Mean Score

17
13
5
9
5
15
7
6
2
18
10

30
41
18
20
25
44
20
30
17
48
29.3

50

40
30

20
10
5

10 15 20
Hours of Internet Use
X=I.V.
20

Forms of Association
A. Positive Linear (r=+.75)

B. Negative Linear (r=-.68)

C. No Correlation
(r=.00)

21

Forms of Association
D. Curvilinear

E. Curvilinear

F. Curvilinear

22

Correlation Matrix

Correlation matrixes chart the entire variable

set against itself and display the coefficients
for each permutation of the matrix. In other
words the variances themselves for every
combination of variables.

23

Correlation Matrix

Degree of Association:
Determined as a -1.0 to 0 to 1.0 value where
as the value 0 shows that there exists no
correlation and a value of -1.0 or 1.0 shows a
100% correlation

24

Typical Correlation Matrix

1
1.School satisfaction

2. Extra-curricular activities

-.33**

3. Friendship

.24

-.03

4. Self-esteem

-.15

.65** .24*

5. Pride in school

-.09

6. Self-awareness

.29** -.02

-.02

.49** .16

.39** .03

.22

25

Simple Graphical Regression

Regression lines can be determined both

mathematically or graphically and are and
indication of the rate of change between two
variables. This rate indicates the magnitude
of effect one variable has upon another.

26

Simple Graphical Regression

50
41
40
Depression
Scores
30

Regression Line

Slope

20
10
Intercept

5
10
14 15
Hours of Internet Use Per Week
27

20

Venn Diagrams and MultiVariant Systems

Common
Sometimes Variance
it is difficult tovs.
see Partial
all the
relationships in a system by just staring at
Variance

raw data. Plotting a Venn Diagram allows

one to graphically represent the intersection
of and thus the variance between multiple
variables.

28

Venn Diagrams and MultiVariant Systems

Bivariate Correlation:
Common
Variance
vs. Partial
Independent Variable
Dependent Variable
Variance
Time on Task
Achievement
r=.50

Time-on-Task

Achievement

r squared=(.50)2
Shared variance

29

Venn Diagrams and MultiVariant Systems

Independent
Dependent
Common Variance
vs. Partial
Variable
Variable
r=.50
Variance
r squared=(.50)
2

Time on Task

Achievement

Time-on-Task

Achievement

Motivation

r squared = (.35)2
Partial Correlations:
use to determine extent
to which a mediating
variable
influences both
independent
and dependent variable

Motivation

30

Flow chart of a Correlational

study

Determine if a correlational study best

address the research problem
Identify the individual study
Identify two or more measure for each
individual in this study
Collect data and monitor potential threats
Analyze the data and represent the results
Interpret the results
31

Determine if a correlational study

best address the research problem

A study related to requiring the identification

of the direction and degree of association
between two sets of scores
It is useful for identifying the types of
association
Need to explain in complex relationships of
multiple factors
When researchers use research questions
32

Identify the individual study

Randomly select the individual/participants to

generalize the result

The group needs to be of adequate size for

use of correlational statistics, such as N=30

33

Identify two or more measure for

each individual in this study

Identify two or more characteristics which will

be compared of a group, measures of
variables in the research questions need to
be identified
Instrument that measure the variables need
to be obtained
Instruments should have proven validity and
reliability

34

Collect data and monitor potential

threats
To administer the instruments and collect at
least two sets of data from each individuals
Researchers will be overly assured about
threats of collecting data sets

35

Analyze the data and represent the results

For data analyzing:

Pearsons correlation coefficient
Partial correlation coefficient
Multiple regression coefficient
To represent result:
correlational matrix of all variables as well as
statistical table (for a regression study) reporting the
R and R2 values and the beta weights for each
variable

36

Interpret the results

In this step the results of this study are discussing the

magnitude and the direction of correlation coefficient
Interpretation will includes the impact of intervening
variables in a correlational study
Regression weight of variables in a regression analysis
and developing a predictive equation for use in a
predictive study

37

How do we evaluate a
correlational Study
To evaluate correlational study we might follow
the criteria given below:
Adequacy of sampling for hypothesis testing
Display the results in matrices and graphs
Assessment of the magnitude of the
relationship based on the coefficent of
determination, P values, effect size

38

How do we evaluate a
correlational Study

Form of relationships and appropriate

statistics
Identify predictor and criterion variables
Predicted the direction of relationship among
variables based on observed data
Statistical procedures

39

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