A researcher measures the hippocampal volume of five participants and gives each of them a self-esteem questionnaire.
The results are shown below.
| Participant | Hippocampal volume (cm³) | Self-esteem score (out of 30) |
|---|---|---|
| A | 6.1 | 14 |
| B | 6.4 | 17 |
| C | 6.8 | 12 |
| D | 7.2 | 22 |
| E | 7.5 | 25 |
Which conclusion is best supported by these results?
There is a positive correlation, so the results show that higher self-esteem increases hippocampal volume.
There is a negative correlation, so participants with a larger hippocampus had lower self-esteem.
There is no correlation, because participant C scored lower on self-esteem than participant A.
There is a positive correlation, but the results cannot show whether either variable causes the other.
76 exam-style questions on OCR GCSE Psychology 4.2 Theories/Explanations, covering 4.2.1 Situational factors on conformity and crowds, 4.2.2 Situational factors on culture and obedience; criticisms, 4.2.3 Situational Factors research study: Bickman (1974), 4.2.4 Dispositional factors on conformity, crowds, morality, obedience, 4.2.5 Brain in dispositional factors; criticisms, and 4.2.6 Dispositional Factors research study: NatCen (2011). Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.