Chapter 2. Correlations of SAT Performance

Topic: Does SAT Performance Correlate to Family Income and Education Level?

Chart Type: Scatterplot

As you’ve read in the scientific methods section of this chapter, psychologists often perform experiments, where they manipulate one variable, the independent variable, and measure its effect on another variable, the dependent variable. This approach is powerful because it allows the researcher to make claims about causal relationships. However, some questions either cannot or should not be answered through experimental manipulation. In these cases, the researchers may collect data on two variables without manipulating anything, and then look to see if there is a systematic relationship, or correlation, between those variables.

This applet uses data that was collected from The College Board’s 2013 College-Bound Seniors Total Group Profile Report, which includes information about SAT scores as well as demographic and academic measures for tens of thousands of students who took the SATs as well as information about previous years’ scores.