Chapter 1. Correlation: Is the Truth Really Ugly?

1.1 Correlation: Is the Truth Really Ugly?

CORRELATION: IS THE TRUTH REALLY UGLY?
Is the Truth Really Ugly?
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You must read each slide, and complete any questions on the slide, in sequence.

Welcome

Is the Truth Really Ugly?

Authors:

Kelly M. Goedert, Seton Hall University

Susan A. Nolan, Seton Hall University

Kaylise D. Algrim, Seton Hall University

What makes a word bad? Almost all languages have certain words that are not polite to say at the dinner table. These words might be acceptable in some situations, like a night out with friends, but not in others, such as arguing a case in court. While offensive language can be, well, offensive, it can also be a way to express emotions more emphatically. Cursing certainly has some negative connotations, but are there ways swearing can be good? Moreover, is there something different about people who use more four-letter words?

girl playing games on desktop computer.
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Question 1.1

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1.2

A series of studies compared whether frequently using curse words may relate to truth-telling (Feldman et al., 2017). Because swearing is often perceived negatively, some people view those who swear as untrustworthy and dishonest. However, an international team of researchers wondered if people who swear more often are more honest than those who don’t swear so frequently. After all, swearing can be seen as a glimpse of someone’s “unfiltered feelings” (p. 817). So, maybe swearing is related to honesty. The research team tested people’s tendency for dishonesty alongside their overall use and general pleasure in using curse words.

Question 1.2

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1.3

In the study, participants completed an honesty measure on which they answered questions for which a yes answer is unlikely, such as “Are all your habits good and desirable ones?” The honesty measures assessed whether they tended to answer honestly versus in a way that was socially desirable (and so less honest).

Participants were then asked about their swearing in three ways. First, participants reported their frequency of swearing in different contexts, a measure called “profanity self-report.” They then completed two behavioral measures: (1) Students were asked to list the curse words they “use the most,” and then (2) students were asked to list the curse words they “like the most.” The researchers added, “Feel free, don’t hold back.”

Table 1. Study 1: Means, Standard Deviations, and Correlations for Variables
Variables Mean SD Honesty Profanity self-report Profanity used
Honesty 7.63 3.00 (0.79)
Profanity self-report 6.51 2.56 0.34*** (0.84)
Profanity used 4.09 2.61 0.20** 0.46*** (—)
Profanity liked 1.60 1.62 0.13* 0.41*** 0.45***

* p < .05. ** p < .01. *** p < .001.

Question 1.3

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Correct! The number of curse words listed as used the most had the highest standard deviation, 2.61.
Actually, the number of curse words listed as used the most had the highest standard deviation, 2.61.

1.4

Table 1. Study 1: Means, Standard Deviations, and Correlations for Variables
Variables Mean SD Honesty Profanity self-report Profanity used
Honesty 7.63 3.00 (0.79)
Profanity self-report 6.51 2.56 0.34*** (0.84)
Profanity used 4.09 2.61 0.20** 0.46*** (—)
Profanity liked 1.60 1.62 0.13* 0.41*** 0.45***

* p < .05. ** p < .01. *** p < .001.

Question 1.4

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Correct! The p value for correlation between honesty and self-reported profanity is the lowest among the correlations between honesty and each of the three profanity measures. Lower p values are stronger evidence against the null hypothesis, which is that there is no correlation between two variables.
Actually, the p value for correlation between honesty and self-reported profanity is the lowest among the correlations between honesty and each of the three profanity measures. Lower p values are stronger evidence against the null hypothesis, which is that there is no correlation between two variables.

1.5

Table 1. Study 1: Means, Standard Deviations, and Correlations for Variables
Variables Mean SD Honesty Profanity self-report Profanity used
Honesty 7.63 3.00 (0.79)
Profanity self-report 6.51 2.56 0.34*** (0.84)
Profanity used 4.09 2.61 0.20** 0.46*** (—)
Profanity liked 1.60 1.62 0.13* 0.41*** 0.45***

* p < .05. ** p < .01. *** p < .001.

Question 1.5

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Correct! The correlation coefficient for enjoyment of profanity and honesty is 0.13. You can find it by looking at the intersection of the row for “Profanity liked” and the column for “Honesty.”
Actually, the correlation coefficient for enjoyment of profanity and honesty is 0.13. You can find it by looking at the intersection of the row for “Profanity liked” and the column for “Honesty.”

1.6

Table 1. Study 1: Means, Standard Deviations, and Correlations for Variables
Variables Mean SD Honesty Profanity self-report Profanity used
Honesty 7.63 3.00 (0.79)
Profanity self-report 6.51 2.56 0.34*** (0.84)
Profanity used 4.09 2.61 0.20** 0.46*** (—)
Profanity liked 1.60 1.62 0.13* 0.41*** 0.45***

* p < .05. ** p < .01. *** p < .001.

Question 1.6

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Correct! The correlation coefficient for enjoyment of profanity and honesty is 0.34. You can find it by looking at the intersection of the row for “Profanity self-report” and the column for “Honesty.”
Actually, the correlation coefficient for enjoyment of profanity and honesty is 0.34. You can find it by looking at the intersection of the row for “Profanity self-report” and the column for “Honesty.”

1.7

Table 1. Study 1: Means, Standard Deviations, and Correlations for Variables
Variables Mean SD Honesty Profanity self-report Profanity used
Honesty 7.63 3.00 (0.79)
Profanity self-report 6.51 2.56 0.34*** (0.84)
Profanity used 4.09 2.61 0.20** 0.46*** (—)
Profanity liked 1.60 1.62 0.13* 0.41*** 0.45***

* p < .05. ** p < .01. *** p < .001.

Question 1.7

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Correct! There is a significant positive correlation between honesty rating and number of most liked curse words, but that correlation is not as strong as the correlations between all the other pairs of variables.
Actually, there is a significant positive correlation between honesty rating and number of most liked curse words, but that correlation is not as strong as the correlations between all the other pairs of variables.

1.8

Table 1. Study 1: Means, Standard Deviations, and Correlations for Variables
Variables Mean SD Honesty Profanity self-report Profanity used
Honesty 7.63 3.00 (0.79)
Profanity self-report 6.51 2.56 0.34*** (0.84)
Profanity used 4.09 2.61 0.20** 0.46*** (—)
Profanity liked 1.60 1.62 0.13* 0.41*** 0.45***

* p < .05. ** p < .01. *** p < .001.

Question 1.8

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Correct! Based on the positive, statistically significant correlations between honesty ratings and profanity, we would reject the null hypothesis. We know that these correlations are statistically significant because they all have asterisks next to them, indicating p values less than 0.05, 0.01, or 0.001.
Actually, based on the positive, statistically significant correlations between honesty ratings and profanity, we would reject the null hypothesis. We know that these correlations are statistically significant because they all have asterisks next to them, indicating p values less than 0.05, 0.01, or 0.001.

1.9

Table 1. Study 1: Means, Standard Deviations, and Correlations for Variables
Variables Mean SD Honesty Profanity self-report Profanity used
Honesty 7.63 3.00 (0.79)
Profanity self-report 6.51 2.56 0.34*** (0.84)
Profanity used 4.09 2.61 0.20** 0.46*** (—)
Profanity liked 1.60 1.62 0.13* 0.41*** 0.45***

* p < .05. ** p < .01. *** p < .001.

Question 1.9

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Correct! Coefficient alpha is essentially the average of all possible split-half correlations. With just one item, the number of words, we can’t calculate any split-half correlations, so we cannot calculate coefficient alpha.
Actually, coefficient alpha is essentially the average of all possible split-half correlations. With just one item, the number of words, we can’t calculate any split-half correlations, so we cannot calculate coefficient alpha.

1.10

The bottom line: The international research team found evidence that people who like to swear might just be more honest and show their true colors more often.

A passive aggressive woman stands in front of a blue wall and flips off the camera while concealing it with a paper heart.
harpazo_hope/Moment/Getty Images

REFERENCES

Feldman, G., Lian, H., Kosinski, M., & Stillwell, D. (2017). Frankly, we do give a damn: The relationship between profanity and honesty.” Social Psychological and Personality Science, 8, 816–826. https://doi.org/10.1177/1948550616681055