This document discusses correlational studies, which examine relationships between two or more variables without determining cause and effect. Correlational studies can be used to explore predictive relationships or examine how factors relate. The document provides an example of a correlational study that looked for relationships between student grades and their classification as a "morning person" or "evening person". The study found a modest correlation between morningness and grades in early morning classes but not later classes. However, the study did not determine whether being a morning person causes better early grades.

1. Presented by Nataly Castro

2. It is the systematic investigation of
relationships among two or more
variables, without necessarily determining cause
and effect.

3.  Relational studies
ex: Exists a relationship between the time
that students spend on Internet chatting
the night before an exam and the
scores that they get.
 Prediction studies
ex: the next grades of the students are
going to be similar to the last exam
(according to the first example)

4. Identify the
variables
Question
Data
Calculs
Results

5. Surveys.
Score on various test or rating
scales
Demographic information

7. Question
• Do student grades relate to whether
they are “morning people”?
Method
The researchers correlated two kinds of
variables
• Grades in early and late classes
• Scores on a scale of “morningness” (13-
item inventory)

9. Result
 There was a modest, significant, correlation
between morningness and grades at 8:00
a.m., r= 0,1
 Students who were not morning people did
less well at 8:00 and performed better in
later classes.
CONCLUSION?

10. The pattern did not hold for classes
starting at 9:00 or later. So even
“evening people” can do well in
early classes.
The study is correlational, so we do
not know if being a morning person
is the cause of better grades in the
morning

11. Correlational Studies involve
relationships among
variables. It is not possible
to make determinations of
causation with a
correlational study.

12.  Clarke, R. J. (2005) Research Methodologies
 Smith, C. S., Reilly, C., & Midkiff, K. (1989).
Evaluation of three circadian rhythm
questionnaires with suggestions for an improved
measure of morningness. Journal of Applied
Psychology, 74, 728-738