4.2.3.T4 Correlations and content analysis Quiz: AQA Psychology, Unit 2

The 20 questions

1. A correlation measures:

   • The causal link between two variables established through a controlled design
   • The strength and direction of the relationship between two co-variables
   • The effect of an IV on a DV in a controlled experiment with random allocation
   • The difference between two group means calculated from a controlled experiment

2. A positive correlation means that:

   • The two variables are unrelated, so changes in one have no link to the other
   • One variable causes the other to change, so the link is one of cause and effect
   • As one variable increases, the other also tends to increase
   • As one variable increases, the other tends to decrease, showing an inverse pattern

3. A negative correlation means that:

   • The two variables have no systematic relationship, so the scatter shows no pattern
   • As one variable increases, the other tends to decrease
   • The correlation is always caused by a third variable that affects both measures
   • As one variable increases, the other also increases in a steady matched pattern

4. Why can a correlation not establish causation?

   • Correlations always use very small samples, which makes the coefficients unreliable overall
   • Correlations are only used in laboratory settings, where the controls are fully applied
   • A relationship may be caused by a third variable or the direction may be reversed
   • Correlations never measure real variables, only the mathematical sum of the scores

5. Content analysis is best described as:

   • A laboratory test with a manipulated independent variable that is measured in a controlled setting
   • A systematic analysis of qualitative material, such as text or film, that is coded into categories
   • A physiological measure of arousal during a demanding task, recorded from electrodes placed on the skin surface
   • An interview in which respondents are asked open questions about their experiences and feelings

6. In content analysis, coding refers to:

   • Recording the sequence of events within an experiment as it unfolds over time
   • Writing a computer programme that analyses the data automatically without any input
   • Assigning units of the material to predetermined categories
   • Asking participants to rate the material on a numerical scale from one to seven

7. A strength of content analysis is that it:

   • Can be done on existing material, which avoids the need to recruit participants
   • Involves direct manipulation of participants' behaviour in a controlled laboratory setting
   • Eliminates the need for any categories, since the material speaks for itself in full
   • Always measures the actual behaviour of the people who produced the material in real time

8. A study finds that people who watch more hours of television tend to have lower exam scores. What is the best conclusion?

   • A negative correlation exists, but television viewing cannot be confirmed as the cause
   • Television viewing causes lower exam scores, because screen time displaces study time
   • There is no relationship between the two variables, since the link is entirely chance
   • Exam scores cause people to watch more television, as weak students seek distraction

9. A researcher counts aggressive acts in children's cartoons using a coding scheme. What method is this?

   • Content analysis
   • Event-related potential analysis
   • Structured interview
   • Controlled laboratory observation

10. A scatter diagram shows points that rise from left to right. What type of correlation is shown?

    • A negative correlation
    • A zero correlation
    • A curvilinear correlation with no direction
    • A positive correlation

11. Two coders independently code the same newspaper articles and their codes are compared. What is this checking?

    • Inter-rater reliability of the content analysis coding
    • Random allocation of the articles to experimental groups before any coding began
    • Test-retest reliability of the newspaper articles over a period of several weeks
    • Concurrent validity of the articles measured against an established standard set

12. A correlation between two variables is found to be significant, and a researcher's data show a third variable linked to both. What is this problem called?

    • A third-variable problem
    • Demand characteristic of the study
    • Order effect in the design
    • Experimenter bias in recording

13. Why might a researcher use a correlation rather than an experiment for some questions?

    • Experiments cannot have a dependent variable, so they only compare group means
    • Correlations always provide clear causal evidence that the variables are linked
    • Correlations always remove the need for a sample, since all cases are included
    • Manipulating some variables would be unethical or impossible

14. A correlation coefficient of -0.8 is best described as:

    • A moderate positive correlation
    • A zero correlation
    • A weak positive correlation
    • A strong negative correlation

15. Which correlation coefficient indicates the strongest relationship?

    • r = 0.65, a moderate positive value
    • r = 0.10, a very weak positive value
    • r = 0.40, a weak positive value
    • r = -0.92

16. A content analysis uses categories that are vague and overlap. What is the main risk?

    • Participants will change their behaviour when they know they are being observed
    • The results will always be too precise to interpret in any meaningful way at all
    • Coders may apply the categories inconsistently, reducing reliability
    • The sample will automatically become representative of the wider population studied

17. Explain why content analysis data may be quantitative even though the source material is qualitative.

    • Counting is not possible for any text or film, so the coding has to be done by eye
    • Coded categories are counted, turning descriptions of material into frequencies
    • Qualitative material always contains numerical data that can be counted without coding
    • Quantitative data are always gathered from interviews, so no coding is needed at all

18. A study finds a positive correlation between ice cream sales and drowning rates. What is the most likely explanation?

    • Hot weather increases both variables, so a third variable explains the link
    • Eating ice cream causes people to drown, because the cold food affects swimming ability
    • The correlation shows that the experiment was successful, since both measures improved
    • Drowning causes people to buy more ice cream, as the shock creates a sudden craving

19. A correlation coefficient is calculated as 0.00. Which conclusion is correct?

    • There is no linear relationship between the two variables
    • A causal link between the variables has been proven
    • The sample was too small for any calculation to be made
    • The variables are perfectly related in a positive direction

20. A content analysis of magazines counts how many images show women in domestic roles. What is the coded measure?

    • The mean rating of each magazine by readers
    • The participants' self-reported attitudes towards the magazines
    • The frequency of images in each coded category
    • The median length of the articles in each issue

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