AP Psychology › Analyzing Research Findings
Why is it inappropriate to infer casual conclusions from correlative data?
One variable can be related to another without causing the other variable
Correlations require larger samples
Cause-and-effect conclusions require longitudinal data
Correlative data contains more than two variables
Correlations explain the strength and direction of the relationship between two variables; however, these relationships do not indicate direct causality. For instance, the relationship can be caused by a third variable, called a confounding variable. Correlations—no matter how strong—do not imply causation.
Which of the following terms describes a study design in which several groups of different ages are studied over a period of several years?
Sequential cohort
Longitudinal
Cross-sectional
Idiographic
Long-term groups
Sequential cohort studies are a combination of longitudinal and cross-sectional methods insofar as they compare the behaviors or attitudes of specific groups of people over an extended time period.