Relationships
The last task is to see how the Variables relate to each other.
The Relationship Matrix contains all the variables suggested by the group.
The task now is to define the kind of relationships between each pair of variables. You will leave a cell blank if the pair has no relation with each otherand enter a positive or negative number if the pair as some relation. The sign of the number indicates the type of relationship (Same or Opposite), and the number itself indicates how strong the relationship -- in other words, the degree to which they vary together.
The matrix contains two cells for each pair. Those cells should be the same. We are assessing causality (which variables affects which other variable); just association (that they go up or down in the same or in opposite directions).
The kinds of relationships are –
- No relation = blank. The two variables are independent of each other.
- A positive (Same) relation = a positive number. The two variables tend to move in the same direction together (either up or down), such as education and income.
- A negative (Opposite) relation = a negative number. The two variables tend to move in the opposite direction together (one goes up and the the other goes down or vice versa), such as time playing video games and time spent studying.
The degree of the relationship is –
- Strong positive relation = +2
- Moderate positive relation = +1
- No relation = blank
- Moderate negative relation = -1
- Strong negative relation = -2