Topic: Correlation
Pages: 2, Double spaced
Sources: 1
Order type: Essay
Subject: Criminology
Style: APA
Language: English (U.S.)
Correlation
Fox, Levin, & Forde, Elementary Statistics in Criminal Justice Research (4th ed.)
• Chapter 10: Correlation
• Salkind, Statistics for People Who (Think They) Hate Statistics: Using Microsoft Excel 2016 (4th ed.)
• Chapter 15: Cousins or Just Good Friends? Testing Relationships Using the Correlation Coefficient
• Module notes
Correlation
When we use hypothesis tests, we ask the question, “Are these groups different?” The answer we get is not very precise. We can tell if the groups are different; and, depending on how we set up the null and research hypotheses, we may be able to tell the direction of the difference. But beyond that, we have very little information about how the groups differ.
For example, using hypothesis tests, we may be able to tell if younger males (less than 25 years of age) have higher arrest rates than older males (men 25 years and older). However, we cannot tell how much the arrest rate changes with each additional year of age. In order to make policies, it is frequently necessary to have a more precise measurement of how variables are associated. Correlation coefficients allow us to not only measure whether two variables are related, but, if they are, to determine the nature of the relationship.
A word of caution about this correlation: Correlation is not causation. Just because two variables are related, it does not mean that one causes the other. Many new statisticians make this assumption, which can be very problematic. In order to tease out causal relationships, studies have to be designed to do so if a study, and the theoretical foundation underlying the study, is not geared towards finding causality, statistics cannot help you do so.
Correlation
Correlations are widely used in research papers, institutional reports, and media articles. Understanding what correlation means in the context of the study, what it can tell you, and how it can help you interpret the data is an important skill.
Review one of the following articles:
• Fajnzylber, P., Lederman, D., & Loayza, N. (2002, April). Inequality and violent crime. Journal of Law and Economics [PDF File Size 195KB] (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.. Retrieved from http://siteresources.worldbank.org/DEC/Resources/Crime%26Inequality.pdf (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
• Hughes, R. (2008). Casual factors influence repeat violent criminal offenses in a GIS spatial context. Papers in Resource Analysis [PDF File Size 810KB] (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.. Retrieved from www.gis.smumn.edu/GradProjects/HughesR.pdf
Respond to the questions below:
• What are the variables in the study? Identify the independent and the dependent variables. How are the variables measured?
• Is the sample appropriate for the study? What is the data collection method?
• What are the variables of interest in the correlation?
• What is the correlation coefficient? Is it a strong correlation?
• Based on theory, do you expect a relationship between the variables? Explain. Does the correlation match your expectation?
• What other variables may have an effect on the dependent variable? Are any of those variables related to the independent variable?
• Could the correlation be coincidental? Explain.
