Objective 5
Describe the
differences between correlational and experimental research especially with
respect to issues of causality and prediction.
Explanation:
Correlational research shows naturally occurring relationships and how one variable predicts another. Correlation research doesn't prove a cause-effect relationship, but it does show how one thing predicts another. Correlation doesn't equal causation. Experimental research shows causation. In experimental research the independent variable is manipulated which causes the dependent variable to possibly change. Experimental research shows a specific cause and effect.
Correlational research shows naturally occurring relationships and how one variable predicts another. Correlation research doesn't prove a cause-effect relationship, but it does show how one thing predicts another. Correlation doesn't equal causation. Experimental research shows causation. In experimental research the independent variable is manipulated which causes the dependent variable to possibly change. Experimental research shows a specific cause and effect.
Example:
This website, http://psychology.about.com/od/researchmethods/a/correlational.htm, is a good example of what correlation research is. A correlational study shows the relationship between two variables, but they can't prove that one variable causes the other. There might be a relationship between self-esteem and academic success, but we don't know for certain if self-esteem causes academic success or the other way around. Correlation doesn't equal causation.
This website, http://psychology.about.com/od/researchmethods/a/correlational.htm, is a good example of what correlation research is. A correlational study shows the relationship between two variables, but they can't prove that one variable causes the other. There might be a relationship between self-esteem and academic success, but we don't know for certain if self-esteem causes academic success or the other way around. Correlation doesn't equal causation.
Example:
This website, http://psychology.about.com/od/researchmethods/a/what-is-experimental-psychology.htm, gives a good example of experimental research. It tells the basics of creating a psychology experiment. You should assigning participants to groups, operationally define variables, develop a hypothesis, manipulate the independent variables, and measure the dependent variables. Experimental research shows causality.
This website, http://psychology.about.com/od/researchmethods/a/what-is-experimental-psychology.htm, gives a good example of experimental research. It tells the basics of creating a psychology experiment. You should assigning participants to groups, operationally define variables, develop a hypothesis, manipulate the independent variables, and measure the dependent variables. Experimental research shows causality.