Psychological research methodologies can be categorized into two main types: correlational research and experimental research. It is crucial for psychology students to understand the differences between these methodologies in order to design their own psychological studies.
What is Correlational Research?
Correlational research involves the investigation of relationships between variables. Researchers hypothesize that two variables may be related and then measure the value of both under various circumstances to test this hypothesis. The goal is to determine if a relationship exists and whether it is statistically significant. In correlational research, there is no attempt to influence the variables; the researcher merely records the values and tries to establish a connection between them, like trying to find a correlation between high blood pressure and cholesterol. However, correlational research does not attempt to establish a cause-and-effect relationship between variables.
What is Experimental Research?
Experimental research, often considered more scientific, involves introducing changes to variables and observing the effects. For example, a researcher might deliberately increase a subject’s blood pressure and then measure their cholesterol levels to see if there is any change. If changes in one variable lead to changes in another, the researcher can establish a causal relationship between them.
Key Takeaways
- Experimental research can establish a causal relationship between variables, while correlational research cannot.
- In correlational research, the researcher does not attempt to control or influence variables, only to record their values.
- Correlational research can establish a correlation between two variables without stating a causal relationship.
