1. Research Methods: Concepts and Connections First Edition
Michael Passer
Research Methods: Concepts and Connections First Edition
Chapter 5:
Correlation and Correlational Research
Clicker Questions
Questions by Melissa Terlecki, Cabrini College
© 2013 by Worth Publishers

2. Chapter 5
The difference between experimental and correlational research is that:
experiments examine cause-effect relations between variables.
correlational research manipulates an independent variable.
experiments examine potential associations between naturally occurring variables.
correlational research attempts to eliminate confounding variables through environmental control.

3. Chapter (Answer)
The difference between experimental and correlational research is that:
experiments examine cause-effect relations between variables.
correlational research manipulates an independent variable.
experiments examine potential associations between naturally occurring variables.
correlational research attempts to eliminate confounding variables through environmental control.

4. Chapter 5
2. Which is NOT likely an association examined through correlational research?
Is there a relationship between people’s age and shoe size?
Is there a relationship between parental and children’s intelligence?
Are people who live in colder climates more likely to get the flu?
Does exposing children to more sugary snacks cause more hyperactivity?

5. Chapter (Answer)
2. Which is NOT likely an association examined through correlational research?
Is there a relationship between people’s age and shoe size?
Is there a relationship between parental and children’s intelligence?
Are people who live in colder climates more likely to get the flu?
Does exposing children to more sugary snacks cause more hyperactivity?

6. Chapter 5
3. As height increases, weight increases. This would be an example of a(n):
negative correlation.
positive correlation.
partial correlation.
experiment.

7. Chapter (Answer)
3. As height increases, weight increases. This would be an example of a(n):
negative correlation.
positive correlation.
partial correlation.
experiment.

8. Chapter 5 4. Spearman’s rho measures variables on which scale?
interval
ratio
ordinal
nominal

9. Chapter (Answer)
4. Spearman’s rho measures variables on which scale?
interval
ratio
ordinal
nominal

10. Chapter 5 5. A Pearson’s r of .75 would be considered a:
weak positive correlation.
weak negative correlation.
strong positive correlation.
moderate negative correlation.

11. Chapter 5 (Answer) 5. A Pearson’s r of .75 would be considered a:
weak positive correlation.
weak negative correlation.
strong positive correlation.
moderate negative correlation.

12. Chapter 5
6. If the relationship between X and Y are measured as r =.25, this means that:
X and Y are 25% related.
25% of the variance is accounted for.
.0625% of the variance is accounted for.
this is a strong correlation.

13. Chapter (Answer)
6. If the relationship between X and Y are measured as r =.25, this means that:
X and Y are 25% related.
25% of the variance is accounted for.
.0625% of the variance is accounted for.
this is a strong correlation.

14. Chapter 5 7. A scatterplot does NOT show:
the intersection of X and Y values.
the depiction of a straight line the stronger the correlation.
both positive and negative correlations.
only linear relations between X and Y.

15. Chapter 5 (Answer) 7. A scatterplot does NOT show:
the intersection of X and Y values.
the depiction of a straight line the stronger the correlation.
both positive and negative correlations.
only linear relations between X and Y.

16. Chapter 5
8. Ambiguity about whether X has caused Y or Y has caused X is called (the):
bidirectionality problem.
third-variable problem.
predictor.
range restriction.

17. Chapter (Answer)
8. Ambiguity about whether X has caused Y or Y has caused X is called (the):
bidirectionality problem.
third-variable problem.
predictor.
range restriction.

18. Chapter 5
9. Which approach allows one to measure X at an earlier time than Y, in the same individuals over time?
cross-lagged panel design
prospective design
longitudinal design
cross-sectional design

19. Chapter (Answer)
9. Which approach allows one to measure X at an earlier time than Y, in the same individuals over time?
cross-lagged panel design
prospective design
longitudinal design
cross-sectional design

20. Chapter 5
10. In a study where one looks at infant verbal ability to predict the ability to learn a second language in childhood, the measure of infant verbal ability would be:
a multiple regression.
the criterion variable.
the predictor variable.
a partial correlation.

21. Chapter (Answer)
10. In a study where one looks at infant verbal ability to predict the ability to learn a second language in childhood, the measure of infant verbal ability would be:
a multiple regression.
the criterion variable.
the predictor variable.
a partial correlation.

22. Chapter 5
11. If a criterion and predictor variable correlate, which is NOT true?
contributions to the overall variance may overlap.
they may or may not add a statistically significant amount to the variance.
they may be dropped from the regression analyses if it doesn’t add to the variance.
they will contribute unique information to the variance.

23. Chapter (Answer)
11. If a criterion and predictor variable correlate, which is NOT true?
contributions to the overall variance may overlap.
they may or may not add a statistically significant amount to the variance.
they may be dropped from the regression analyses if it doesn’t add to the variance.
they will contribute unique information to the variance.

24. Chapter 5
12. The correlational approach is NOT used to predict outcomes:
in daily life (behaviors).
for test validation.
in controlled, ethical manipulations.
in hypothesis and model testing.

25. Chapter (Answer)
12. The correlational approach is NOT used to predict outcomes:
in daily life (behaviors).
for test validation.
in controlled, ethical manipulations.
in hypothesis and model testing.

26. Chapter 5 13. Which might be an example of a curvilinear relation?
As age increases, speed decreases.
As age increases, mood increases then decreases.
As age increases, weight increases.
As age increases, body mass index remains the same.

27. Chapter (Answer)
13. Which might be an example of a curvilinear relation?
As age increases, speed decreases.
As age increases, mood increases then decreases.
As age increases, weight increases.
As age increases, body mass index remains the same.

28. Chapter 5
14. Which would be an example of range restriction in a data set where reaction time (0-60 seconds) was measured on a problem solving task?
All participants finished during the first 10 seconds of the task.
Participants exhibited a wide variety of reaction times during the task.
Only a few outliers couldn’t finish the task during the given time frame, and were excluded from the data.
There was no correlation between reaction time and problem solving ability.

29. Chapter (Answer)
14. Which would be an example of range restriction in a data set where reaction time (0-60 seconds) was measured on a problem solving task?
All participants finished during the first 10 seconds of the task.
Participants exhibited a wide variety of reaction times during the task.
Only a few outliers couldn’t finish the task during the given time frame, and were excluded from the data.
There was no correlation between reaction time and problem solving ability.

30. Chapter 5
15. Which type of variable is NOT accurately measured through a correlation?
interval
ratio
nominal
ordinal

31. Chapter (Answer)
15. Which type of variable is NOT accurately measured through a correlation?
interval
ratio
nominal
ordinal