How Social Psychology Attains Knowledge:
How Social Psychology Attains Knowledge Scientific Method Experimental Method Correlational Method
If experiments are preferred, why use correlational methods?:
If experiments are preferred, why use correlational methods? IV may be unethical to manipulate IV may be difficult to manipulate IV may be impossible to manipulate
Correlational Methods:
Correlational Methods Passive research strategy Measures relationship between two (or more) DVs No IVs No control over extraneous variables No information about cause-effect relationship
Measuring Correlations:
Measuring Correlations Pearson r correlation coefficient Values range from 0 to + 1.00 Positive value direct relationship Negative value inverse relationship
Picturing Correlations on a Scatter Plot:
Picturing Correlations on a Scatter Plot
Strengths and Weaknesses of Correlational Methods:
Strengths and Weaknesses of Correlational Methods Allow us to study behavior in real-life settings. Allow us to study things we are not able to manipulate Allow us to collect large amount of data in short time Findings are ambiguous with respect to cause-effect relationships