Ninth Edition CoverGraziano & Raulin
Research Methods (9th edition)

Chapter 7 Essay Questions
Correlational and Differential
Methods of Research

  1. Explain how correlational research is an extension of naturalistic research.

  2. Your text describes two useful functions served by a correlation coefficient. What are they?

  3. In what ways can a correlation coefficient be interpreted? For example, how might we interpret a correlation of .63 between variables A and B?

  4. Explain why we cannot draw causal inferences from differential research results.

  5. What does it mean to say that two variables are confounded? Give several examples.

  6. Differential research is considered to be at a higher constraint level than correlational research. Explain why.

  7. What information is given by calculating the coefficient of determination?

  8. What are the major limitations of correlational and differential research?

  9. What makes the problem of confounding so important in correlational and differential research?

  10. Correlational and differential research are conceptually similar. How would you explain this to a class?

  11. What is meant by cross-sectional research and by longitudinal research? Under what conditions would you use each?

  12. Explain the concepts of artifacts and confounding variables, and explain why they are so important in research.

  13. Define the concept of control group, and explain the importance of control groups in research.

  14. In what ways are naturalistic research and correlational research different?

  15. Why is it not advisable to infer causality from correlational research?

  16. If causality cannot be inferred from a correlation, what information can be obtained from a correlation?

  17. Under what conditions would we use differential research?

  18. Why can we not infer causality in differential research?

  19. What are moderator variables? Give examples.

  20. What kind of variables are the independent variables in differential research?

  21. What information is gained by squaring the correlation coefficient?

  22. What are some of the ethical problems that arise in research in clinical neuropsychology?

  23. Given the types of problems that arise in research in the field of clinical neuropsychology (see the previous essay question), how can correlational research methods address some of those ethical issues?