Lesson 3.1.4.5.1

3.1.4.5.1 Correlational relationships and scatter diagrams Quiz: AQA Psychology, Unit 4

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

In partnership with Revision Ninja

Lesson 3.1.4.5.1, Correlational relationships and scatter diagrams: 20 multiple choice questions for the AQA GCSE Psychology (8182), Unit 4: Research methods, written with Revision Ninja.

Host it live on the board and students join with a game code on their own devices, or revise alone with Free Play. The answers are revealed in the game.

Host this setFree Play

The 20 questions

  1. In a positive correlation, what happens to one co-variable as the other increases?

    • It increases
    • It becomes zero
    • It stays constant
    • It decreases

  2. How do data points slope on a scatter diagram showing a negative correlation?

    • Horizontally
    • Upwards
    • Downwards
    • Vertically

  3. What relationship between co-variables is indicated by a correlation coefficient close to zero?

    • Strong positive relationship
    • No relationship
    • Direct causal relationship
    • Strong negative relationship

  4. What is the main limitation of using correlational research in psychology?

    • Cannot show causation
    • Lacks quantitative data
    • Requires strict control
    • Always unethical

  5. Which graph type is used to display the relationship between two co-variables?

    • Bar chart
    • Histogram
    • Scatter diagram
    • Pie chart

  6. What type of correlation is shown by points tightly clustered along an upward slope?

    • Zero correlation
    • Strong positive
    • Strong negative
    • Weak positive

  7. Why might a psychologist choose a correlational study over an experiment?

    • Demonstrates direct causation
    • Eliminates observer bias
    • Provides qualitative depth
    • Investigates unmaniputable variables

  8. What are the two variables in a correlation called?

    • Dependent groups
    • Control conditions
    • Experimental manipulations
    • Co-variables

  9. A researcher finds a positive correlation between revision hours and exam scores. What is concluded?

    • Scores cause revision
    • Revision causes scores
    • No relationship exists
    • Variables are associated

  10. What does each plotted dot represent on a psychological scatter diagram?

    • One participant's scores
    • One variable total
    • An anomalous score
    • The group mean

  11. If screen time and sleep duration show a negative correlation, what happens as screen time increases?

    • Sleep duration decreases
    • Sleep remains unchanged
    • Sleep duration increases
    • Screen time drops

  12. What correlation is indicated by a loose, widely spaced pattern of dots sloping upwards?

    • Weak negative
    • Strong positive
    • Weak positive
    • Zero correlation

  13. Why is a correlation used instead of an experiment to study smoking and lung health?

    • Proves cause
    • Greater reliability
    • Better control
    • Ethical issues

  14. What correlation exists when dots on a scatter diagram are spread randomly with no trend?

    • Strong positive
    • Weak negative
    • Perfect correlation
    • Zero correlation

  15. Which pair of co-variables is most likely to display a positive correlation?

    • Temperature and coats
    • Price and demand
    • Absences and grades
    • Revision and grades

  16. What type of link is demonstrated by a correlation between two variables?

    • An association
    • A causal link
    • A direct manipulation
    • Cause and effect

  17. A third variable that affects both measured variables is called what?

    • A dependent variable
    • A demand characteristic
    • A confounding variable
    • An independent variable

  18. In a correlation between ice cream sales and drowning rates, what is hot weather?

    • A controlled variable
    • The independent variable
    • A third variable
    • The dependent variable

  19. What visual pattern on a scatter diagram suggests a non-linear relationship?

    • Randomly scattered points
    • A diagonal band
    • A straight line
    • A curved line

  20. How can a single outlier affect a scatter diagram?

    • It removes noise
    • It proves causation
    • It distorts patterns
    • It increases validity

All AQA Psychology quizzes