How two things are related or the degree to which they are related is often a
question in any area of research, including forensic psychology research. A
researcher might ask these questions: To what degree are drug use and criminal
recidivism related? Are mental illness and violence related? To what degree is an
increase in police patrols related to a decrease in crime rates?
Each of these forensic psychology research questions can be addressed using a
correlational design. Correlational designs help determine if there is a relationship
between variables. The relationship may be positive, meaning there is a positive linear
relationship between the two variables; the relationship may be negative, which means
there is a weak or nonexistent linear relationship between the two variables; or, the
relationship may be curvilinear, which means that at times there appears to be a
relationship and at times there does not.
To prepare for this Discussion:
Pay attention to the descriptions and examples of linear and nonlinear relationships, positive and negative
linear relationships, and curvilinear relationships
Sample Solution