1. Research Methods I Unit 5 – Correlational Research with Professor Kimberly Maring Zechmeister, J. S., Zechmeister, E. B., & Shaughnessy, J. J. (2001). Essentials of research methods in psychology. New York: McGraw-Hill.

2. Correlational Research Examines pre-existing groups or variables as they occur naturally. Looks at associations between variables. A type of observational research that simply looks for connections/associations between existing variables. Correlational research does not indicate causation

3. Methods of Construction  Methods to amass the data which is then used to find what the relationships are in the “naturally occurring variables.” Questionnaires Interviews Surveys

4. Correlational Research – Assesses relationships among naturally occurring variables

5. 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

6. Correlational Research Researchers use correlation coefficients to describe relationships between variables and make predictions.

7. Measures in Correlational Research Questionnaires Sampling Value of research depends on the quality of measurements Demographic variables Preferences/Attitudes Self-Report Scales

8. Analyzing Survey Data Correlation Coefficient – Direction – Strength Scatterplot Margin of Error Positive correlation Negative correlation

9. Thinking Critically About Correlational Research Spurious relationship is a study measuring that which can also be determined by a third variable that cannot be eliminated as a possible influence Examples: ice cream sales and pool drownings; storks nesting on the roof and human births

10. Floor and Ceiling Effects Floor Effects: there is no item that measures a decline from the lowest point Ceiling Effects: the test results items are not challenging enough for a group of participants--they have already reached the highest score on that measure: however they may have improved and it cannot be demonstrated by the measure.

11. A Research Study

12. Research study in our Seminar U6 Classroom http://pewresearch.org/pubs/301/are-we- happy-yet http://pewresearch.org/pubs/301/are-we- happy-yet What are the conclusions of this series of studies? Do you agree with these findings? Why? Does the lack of a significant correlation between two variables mean there is no relationship or association? What else could be happening?

14. Understanding Correlational Research Does the lack of a significant correlation between two variables mean there is no relationship or association? What else could be happening?

19. Other Research Resources Seligman, M. E. P. (2002). Authentic happiness. New York: Simon & Schuster, Inc. In Seligman’s writings on Positive Psychology, he gives examples of many research studies and definitions explaining why psychologist do what we do! Great resource! Find his lectures on YouTube listed under “positive psychology, seligman.”

20. Accuracy in Reporting Have these types of findings been inaccurately reported by the news media? Has this changed your views of the many research reports that you hear about daily?