1. EDU 702
RESEACH METHODOLOGY
CORRELATIONAL & SURVEY RESEARCH
MOHD FIRDAUS BIN ABDUL AZIZ
MOHAMAD SHANIZAM BIN JASMANI
ZURA BINTI IBERAHIM
FARAH IZYAN BT SHAMSURI
NOOR HASMIDA BINTI MOHD KHAIR
2013204736
2013475344
2013458564
2013486496
2013895956

2. CORRELATIONAL RESEARCH
Definition
 The relationships among two or more variables are studied without
any attempt to influence them.
 Investigate the possibility of relationships between only two
variables, although investigations of more than two variables are
common.
 A form of descriptive research because it describes an existing
relationship between variables.

3. PURPOSES OF
CORRELATIONAL RESEARCH
 To help explain important human behaviors or to predict likely
outcomes.

4. Is done when there is already a hypothesis as to why something is
happening. Questions and tests are designed to support that hypotheses, and
prove if it is correct or not. It usually performed in relation to marketing or
when studying social phenomenon. For example, the current belief that
smoking causes lung cancer, although based in part on experimental studies
of animals, rests heavily on correlational evidence of the relationship
between frequency of smoking and incidence of lung cancer.
PREDICTION STUDIES

If a relationship of sufficient magnitude exists between the two
variables, it becomes possible to predict a score on one variable if a
score on the other variable is known. For example, high school grades
are highly related to college grades. We would predict that a person
with a high GPA in high school would be likely to have a high GPA in
college.

5. PROBLEM SELECTION
 Correlational study should be based on a sound rationale growing
out of experience or theory.
 Clarity in defining variables will avoid many problems later. In
general, three major types of problems are the focus of correlational
studies and one of the example is, “what are the relationships among a
large number of variables, and what predictions can be made that are
based on them?”

6. SAMPLE AND INSTRUMENTS
 The minimum acceptable sample size for a correlational
study is considered by most researchers to be no less than 30.
Samples larger than 30 are much more likely to provide
meaningful results.
Instruments used to measure the two or more variables
involved in a correlational study may take any one of a number
of form, but they must yield quantitative data.
 Most correlational studies involve the administration of some
type of instrument and that is tests, questionnaires and so on,
and sometimes observation.

7. DESIGN AND PROCEDURES
 Two or more scores are obtained from each individual in the
sample, one score for each variable of interest.
 The pairs of scores are then correlated, and the resulting correlation
coefficient indicates the degree of relationship between the variables.

8. Basic Steps in Correlational Research
1.
Problem Selection
There are 3 major types of problems:

Is variable X related to variable Y?

How well does variable P predict variable C?

What are the relationship among a large number of variables
and what predictions can be made?
2.
Sample

Should be selected carefully and if possible, randomly

Not less than 30

9. BASIC STEPS IN CORRELATIONAL RESEARCH
3.

Instruments
Most correlational studies involve the administration of some
types of instruments (tests, questionnaire and so on)
4.

Design and Procedures
Design used quite straightforward
5.


Data Collection
Data on both variables will usually be collected in a short time
Instruments used are administered in a single session or two
sessions
6.
Data Analysis and Interpretation

10. THREATS TO INTERNAL VALIDITY IN
CORRELATIONAL RESEARCH
There are some threats identified in conducting
correlational research:
1.

2.


3.


Subject Characteristics
Individual or groups have two or more characteristics; might be a cause
of variation in the other two variables.
Location
Location is different for different subject
One location may be more comfortable compared to others
Instrumentation
Instrument decay; care must be taken to ensure the observers don’t
become tired, bored or inattentive
Data collector characteristics; different gender, age or ethnicity may
affect specific response

11. THREATS TO INTERNAL VALIDITY IN CORRELATIONAL
RESEARCH
4. Testing

Experience of responding to the first instrument may
influence subject responses to the second instrument
5. Mortality

Loss of subjects may make a relationship more (or less) likely
in the remaining data

12. EVALUATING THREATS TO INTERNAL VALIDITY
Follows a procedure similar to the experimental research:
1.
Subject Characteristics

Four of many possible characteristics
i.
severity of disability
ii.
socioeconomic level of parents
iii. physical strength and coordination
iv. physical appearance
2.
Mortality

Loss of subjects can be expected to reduce magnitude of correlation

13. EVALUATING THREATS TO INTERNAL VALIDITY
3. Location

Threats could be controlled by independently assessing the
job-site environments
4. Instrumentation

Instrument decay; observations should scheduled

Data collector characteristics; interaction of data collectors
and supervisors is a necessary parts

Data collector bias; observers should have no knowledge of
job ratings

14. HOW DO WE EVALUATE A CORRELATIONAL STUDY?
To evaluate correlational study, we might follow the criteria given
below:
 Adequacy of sampling for hypothesis testing
 Display the results in matrices and graphs
 Assessment of the magnitude of the relationship based on the
coefficient of determination, values, effect size
 Form of relationships and appropriate statistics
 Identify predictor and criterion variables
 Predicted the direction of relationship among variables based on
observed data
 Statistical procedures

15. WHAT IS A SURVEY?
Survey research is one of the most important areas of measurement
in applied social research. The broad area of survey research
encompasses any measurement procedures that involve asking
questions of respondents.
SURVEY RESEARCH involves collecting data to test hypotheses /to
Answer Q about people’s opinions on some topics or issue.
A SURVEY : instrument to collect data that describe one or more
characteristics of a specific population.
A SURVEY : consists of a predetermined set of questions that
is given to a sample.

16. Types of survey
Cross-Sectional survey
Longitudinal survey
Trend
study
Cohort
study
Panel
study

17. Cross-Sectional survey
A cross-sectional study describes characteristics of that
population at one time, but cannot give any insight as to the
causes of population characteristics because it is a
predictive, correlational design.
Data are collected from selected individuals at a single point
in time.
Effective for providing a snapshot of a current behaviors,
attitudes, and beliefs in a populations.

18. Longitudinal Surveys
Information is collected at different point in time in order to
study change over time.
Require an extended commitment by the researcher and
participants.
Three longitudinal design are commonly employed in survey
research : trend studies, cohort studies and panel studies.
Trend
study
• Examines changes over time in a particular
population defined by some particular
trait/traits.
• Researcher can analyze changes in attitudes,
beliefs, behaviours within that particular
population over time.

19. Cohort Survey
• is a form of longitudinal study (a type of observational study)
•Involves one population selected at a particular time period but multiple samples taken
and surveyed at different points of time
•Cohort studies are largely about the life histories of segments of populations, and the
individual people who constitute these segments.
Panel Survey
• The same individuals are studies over time.
• The researcher survey the same sample of individuals at
different time during the courses of the survey.

20. Conducting Survey Research
Aim: collection of standardized, quantifiable information from all
members of a population or a sample.
To describe the characteristic of a population
For example :
• age
•Ethnicity
•Religious preference and others
Methods of survey research:
• Mail surveys
•In-person interviews
•Telephone interviews
•Internet survey

21. SURVEY RESEARCH &
CORRELATIONAL RESEARCH
 Examine relationship of responses to one
question in a survey to another or of score base
on one set of survey questions to a score based
on another set
 Questionnaire of the variables are prepared,
then the relationship determined by calculating
correlation coefficients.

22. STEP IN SURVEY RESEARCH
1. Defining the Problem
2. Indentifying the Target Population
3. Choosing the Mode of Data Collection
4. Selecting Sample
5. Preparing Instrument
6. Preparing Cover Letter
7. Training Interviews
8. Using an Interview to Measure Ability

23. 1. Defining the Problem
 Should be interesting and important to
motivate individuals to respond.
 Define clearly the objective, each question
relate to survey’s objective.
 Using Hierarchical approach : identify large
categories of issues ending with more specific
issues within each category.

24. 2. Identifying the Target
Population
 The focus of the study in a survey is called
Unit of analysis.
 in other types of research, the focus of study
is called target population.
 Unit of analysis can be objects, companies,
classroom, school, government agencies etc.

25. 3. Choosing the Mode of Data
Collection
 Direct Administration to a Group
 Web-Based Survey
 Mail Survey
 Telephone Survey
 Personal Interview

26. 4. Selecting The sample
 The researcher must know the right sample
to answer the questionnaire.
 And the researcher know the sample have the
information about the question.

27. 5. Preparing The Instrument
 Questionnaire
- Self administered by respondent
- Attractive, not too long, easy to answer
 Interview Schedule
- Ministered verbally by researcher
 Avoid unusual words
 Same Q must be asked of all respondent

28. Types of Question
 Closed- Ended Q
 Open-Ended Q
Improving Closed Ended Q
- Unambiguous, simple, short, common
language, avoid terms that might bias
responses, leading Q and double Negative.

29. •Pretesting The Q’naire
 Overall Format
- How the Q look is very important in
encouraging the respondent to
respond.
 Follow up Q
- Called as contingency Q

30. 6. Preparing Cover Letter
 For mail survey
 Purpose of CV: Explain the purpose of the
survey
 Content of CV: Brief, emphasize the
importance of topic, willing to share the
result, Their respondent name will be kept
confidential, specific date to returned,
signed, enclosing a stamped n self addressed
envelope…

31. 7. Training Interviews
 Need to be trained 1st
- Telephone
How to engage their interviewees, explain and
ask Q
-Face to Face
How to establish rapport, move on a new Q and
previous, when n how to follow up, Training in
gestures, manner, facial expression and dress.

32. Training interview should
include the general topic to
be covered such as:
- Procedures for contacting
respondent, introducing study, how
to design the Q’naire, recording
answer, rules n guidelines for
handling the interpersonal aspects.

33. 8. Using an Interview To
Measure Ability
Ex:

34. THANK YOU