Question

Instructions: Write your responses to the following 5 questions for at least 5 of the 7 example news stories about correlational studies:

1. Identify X and describe how it is being measured
2. Identify Y and describe how it is being measured
3. State the direction of the correlation (+ or –)
4. Identify a possible Z (third) variable
5. Fully interpret the relationship between X and Y (in plain English)

Example 6: Early Language Skills Reduce Preschool Tantrums, Study Finds

Toddlers who have more developed language skills are less likely to throw temper tantrums by the time they begin preschool, according to a new study. They followed 120 children from the ages of 18 months to 4 years and measured their language skills and their ability to cope with frustration. In one test, for example, the children's ability to control their anger was observed as they had to wait eight minutes before opening a gift while their mothers completed a questionnaire. The researchers found that children who had better language skills as toddlers and whose language developed more quickly expressed less anger at age 4 than those whose language skills weren't as good when they were toddlers.

Answer 1

X is early language skills and it is measured on Ordinal level

Y is temper tantrums by the time kid begin preschool and it is measured on the Interval level

The correlation is negative.

The possible third variable is the environment the kid lives in.

There is a strong negative relationship between early language skills and temper tantrums by the time the kid begins preschool. The more developed language skills a kid has earlier lower the temper tantrums by the time the kid begins preschool.