A correlation coefficient, often expressed as r, indicates a measure of the direction and strength of a relationship between two variables. When the r value is closer to +1 or -1, it indicates that there is a stronger linear relationship between the two variables.
Correlational studies are quite common in psychology, particularly because some things are impossible to recreate or research in a lab setting. Instead of performing an experiment, researchers may collect data to look at possible relationships between variables. From the data they collect and its analysis, researchers then make inferences and predictions about the nature of the relationships between variables.
A correlation is a statistical measurement of the relationship between two variables. Remember this handy rule: The closer the correlation is to 0, the weaker it is. The closer it is to +/-1, the stronger it is.
Types of Correlation
Correlation strength ranges from -1 to +1.
Positive Correlation
A correlation of +1 indicates a perfect positive correlation, meaning that both variables move in the same direction together.
Negative Correlation
A correlation of –1 indicates a perfect negative correlation, meaning that as one variable goes up, the other goes down.
Zero Correlation
A zero correlation suggests that the correlation statistic does not indicate a relationship between the two variables. This does not mean that there is no relationship at all; it simply means that there is not a linear relationship. A zero correlation is often indicated using the abbreviation r = 0.
How Are Variables Used in Psychology Research?
Scatter Plots and Correlation
Scatter plots (also called scatter charts, scattergrams, and scatter diagrams) are used to plot variables on a chart to observe the associations or relationships between them. The horizontal axis represents one variable, and the vertical axis represents the other.
Investopedia
Each point on the plot is a different measurement. From those measurements, a trend line can be calculated. The correlation coefficient is the slope of that line. When the correlation is weak (r is close to zero), the line is hard to distinguish. When the correlation is strong (r is close to 1), the line will be more apparent.
Strong vs. Weak Correlations
Correlations can be confusing, and many people equate positive with strong and negative with weak. A relationship between two variables can be negative, but that doesn't mean that the relationship isn't strong.
A weak positive correlation indicates that, although both variables tend to go up in response to one another, the relationship is not very strong. A strong negative correlation, on the other hand, indicates a strong connection between the two variables, but that one goes up whenever the other one goes down.
For example, a correlation of -0.97 is a strong negative correlation, whereas a correlation of 0.10 indicates a weak positive correlation. A correlation of +0.10 is weaker than -0.74, and a correlation of -0.98 is stronger than +0.79.
Correlation Does Not Equal Causation
Correlation does not equal causation. Just because two variables have a relationship does not mean that changes in one variable cause changes in the other. Correlations tell us that there is a relationship between variables, but this does not necessarily mean that one variable causes the other to change.
An oft-cited example is the correlation between ice cream consumption and homicide rates. Studies have found a correlation between increased ice cream sales and spikes in homicides. However, eating ice cream does not cause you to commit murder. Instead, there is a third variable: heat. Both variables increase during summertime.
Illusory Correlations
An illusory correlation is the perception of a relationship between two variables when only a minor relationship—or none at all—actually exists. An illusory correlation does not always mean inferring causation; it can also mean inferring a relationship between two variables when one does not exist.
For example, people sometimes assume that, because two events occurred together at one point in the past, one event must be the cause of the other. These illusory correlations can occur both in scientific investigations and in real-world situations.
Stereotypes are a good example of illusory correlations. Research has shown that people tend to assume that certain groups and traits occur together and frequently overestimate the strength of the association between the two variables.
For example, suppose someone holds the mistaken belief that all people from small towns are extremely kind. When they meet a very kind person, their immediate assumption might be that the person is from a small town, despite the fact that kindness is not related to city population.
How Confirmation Bias Works
A Word From Verywell
Psychology research makes frequent use of correlations, but it's important to understand that correlation is not the same as causation. This is a frequent assumption among those not familiar with statistics and assumes a cause-effect relationship that might not exist.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you find the correlation coefficient?
You can calculate the correlation coefficient in a few different ways, with the same result. The general formula is rXY=COVXY/(SX SY), which is the covariance between the two variables, divided by the product of their standard deviations:
How do you calculate a correlation coefficient in Excel?
In the cell in which you want the correlation coefficient to appear, enter =CORREL(A2:A7,B2:B7), where A2:A7 and B2:B7 are the variable lists to compare. Press Enter.
How do you find a linear correlation coefficient?
Finding the linear correlation coefficient requires a long, difficult calculation, so most people use a calculator or software such as Excel or a statistics program.
How do you interpret a correlation coefficient?
Correlations range from -1.00 to +1.00. The correlation coefficient (expressed as r ) shows the direction and strength of a relationship between two variables. The closer the r value is to +1 or -1, the stronger the linear relationship between the two variables is.
What is the difference between correlation and causation?
Correlations indicate a relationship between two variables, but one doesn't necessarily cause the other to change.
What are negative and positive correlations in psychology?
A positive correlation means that the variables move in the same direction. Put another way, it means that as one variable increases so does the other, and conversely, when one variable decreases so does the other. A negative correlation means that the variables move in opposite directions.What is the difference between positive and a negative correlation?
A positive correlation exists when two variables operate in unison so that when one variable rises or falls, the other does the same. A negative correlation is when two variables move opposite one another so that when one variable rises, the other falls.What is the difference between positive and negative correlation in psychology quizlet?
Positive correlation means that as one variable goes up, so does the other. Negative correlation means that as one variable goes up or down, the other goes the opposite way.What is the difference between a positive and a negative correlation give a psychology based example of each?
An example of positive correlation would be height and weight. Taller people tend to be heavier. A negative correlation is a relationship between two variables in which an increase in one variable is associated with a decrease in the other.