Correlations and Considering Explanations Correlational studies examine the relationships between variables. Demonstrating that a correlation exists does not necessarily mean that changes in one variable cause changes in the other variable. For the studies described below, 1. 2. a) decide whether the correlation is positive or negative and b) How strong is this relationship? c) Is the correlation significant? How do you know? d) give at least one other possible explanation for the finding (That is not causal). Researchers investigating the relationship between alcohol and memory found that higher doses of alcohol were associated with increasingly lower scores on a test of memory recall, r (99)=-12, p = .09. A college professor notices that the farther students sit toward the back of the room, the worse their grades in the course seem to be, 7 (99) = -75, p = .005. (Ctrl)