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Correlational Research Essay

Fadhil Ramadhani
Offering A
NIM 140221600212
Introduction to Research Methods: Tuesday 1-2

Correlational research is one of the descriptive research designs used to measure to


correlation between two or more continuous variables. Correlational research only uses
continuous variables in its research. A continuous variable is one that, theoretically at least, can
take any value between two points on a scale or can show the levels of the trait people involved
in the research from the highest to the lowest. Variables are classified as continuous if they show
gradational differences in the same trait possessed by individuals. Examples of continuous
variables are: height, weight, speed, IQ, intelligence, self-esteem, academic achievement, and
language skills.
A correlation is the measurement of the co-relationship between two or more variables
using correlational statistics to investigate the precise degree of their relationship, meaning that
the research aims at investigating the correlation between the X-variable and the Y-variable. The
correlation design can be used only when the X-variable is continuous. The X-variable is not
called independent variable. Here is an example of correlation research:

Research Objective: This study tries to investigate the correlation between students IQ
and their achievement in learning English.
Research question: Do the higher IQ the students have, the higher achievement they
make in learning English?
Research Assumption: There is a correlation between students IQ and their achievement
in learning English.
Theoretical Hypothesis: The higher IQ the students have, the higher achievement they
make in learning English.
Null Hypothesis: There is no correlation between students IQ and their achievement in
learning English.

In correlation research, the group needs to be one, meaning that it needs to involve all the
subjects and not categorized into separate groups. The group also needs to be big enough so that
the research can be conducted effectively and the score must be varied, meaning that the scores
should not be the same. Every member of the group has to contribute two scores and the scores
must vary. If there is only one score or the scores are the same, then the researchers cannot get
the correlation because the group is very homogenous, which in turn means that the correlation
cannot show correlation.

The data in correlational research are analyzed using correlational statistics resulting in
correlation coefficient which shows the degree of the relationship (how closely they are related)
between the variables involved. The correlation coefficient is represented with r (the degree of
the correlation), the result of the data analysis is represented with a, and is expressed as a number
between -1 and +1.
The correlation between two variables can also be presented visually using scatter
diagram. This diagram scatters the score. The scatter diagram uses a vertical line to indicate the
scores of each member in the x variable and the horizontal line to indicate the scores of
individual members in the y variable. This scatter diagram as well as the correlation analysis
cannot be done when the scores of the group do not vary. The more scores on two measures vary,
the better the correlation scatter diagram as well as the correlation coefficient can show their
relationship.
There are three types of correlations that are identified:
1. Positive correlation: A direct relationship whereas the amount of one variable

increases, the amount of a second variable also increases. This correlation shows the
same direction, as when the X is high, the Y is also high. For example, the students
level of IQ might correlate positively with their achievement in learning English.
When the r is +1, the variables have perfect positive correlation, but please keep in
mind that correlation +1 (100%) doesnt exist.
An example of scatter diagram with perfect positive correlation:

2. Negative correlation: As the amount of one goes up, the levels of another variable go

down. This correlation shows the opposite direction, as when the X is high, the Y is
low. For example, the students weight might correlate negatively with their speed in
running. When r is -1, the variables have perfect negative correlation.
An example of scatter diagram with perfect negative correlation:

3. No correlation: When a change in one does not lead to a change in the other and vice

versa. When r is 0, the variables have no correlation.

In real life, perfect correlation, either positive or negative, does not exist. There is no
perfect correlation between two variables because when two variables make perfect correlation,
the two variables are actually the same (one) variable.
The correlation coefficient and the scatter diagram show the direction of the relationship
(either positive or negative correlation) and the consistency of the relationship. The more
consistent the relationship is, the higher degree of their correlation. The degree for the positive
correlation ranges from 0 to +1 and the degree for the negative correlation ranges from 0 to -1.
If the degree is close to 1, then it is positive. On the other hand, if the degree is close to 0, then it
is negative.
The difference between high correlation index and low correlation index is in their
consistency. The consistency shows the degree of the correlation. Correlation is to predict the Yvariable from the X-variable. The predictions accuracy depends on the exceptions. The
exceptions vary from the trend, violate the mainstream, and follow the extreme.
The lower the degree of the correlation between the two variables, the more
exception the correlation has, the less accurate the correlation is and the rule is not
very strong.

The higher the degree of the correlation between the two variables, the fewer
exception the correlation has, the more accurate the correlation is and the rule is
very strong.

Another explanation why two variables make positive correlation is the amount of
variance the two variables share. The more variance two variables share, the higher correlation
they make. Two high positive scores must have shared a lot in its correlation.
The following are the examples of some types of scatter diagram from correlational
research:

1.
2.

3.

Moderate Positive Correlation

4.
5.

Moderate Negative Correlation

6.

After doing the research, we need to conduct the data analysis in order to find the a,
which is the result of the data analysis. Then, we can determine if the null hypothesis is rejected
or not after consulting to the table, so that we can get the minimum level of significance. For
example, let us use .6 as the minimum level of significance, so we can compare the a with .6. If
the a is above .6, then the a is significant. Therefore, the null hypothesis is rejected, which
indicates that there is a correlation and the correlation is positive. On the other hand, if the a is
below .6, then the a is not significant. Therefore, it is too small to reject null hypothesis, meaning

that the null hypothesis is not rejected. This indicates that there is no correlation and there are too
many exceptions.

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