In this module, the advantages and disadvantages of correlational research will be discussed.

Learning Objectives

• Describe the strengths and advantages of correlational research
• Describe disadvantages and limitations of correlational research

Experimental research methods are often preferred because the research can control one or more variables and such methods can be used to examine cause and effect relationships. While neither of these points applies to correlational research, correlative findings can still produce great insights and are useful in exploring relationships between variables. Before determining whether correlational research may be valuable for a particular study, it is important to consider the advantages and disadvantages. The following lists describe the benefits and limitations of correlational research:

Advantages

• Researchers can use correlational studies to determine the strength and direction of a relationship. The strength is easily calculated through use of a correlation coefficient and direction may be determined by analyzing the trend of the data on a graph.
• Researchers can investigate naturally occurring variables that may be unethical or impractical to investigate through other research methods. As an example, it would be unethical to conduct an experimental study to determine if eating large amounts of red meat will raise cholesterol levels.
• Large amounts of data can be collected, often through archived data or surveys, creating a large sample size.
• Data is not typically collected in a lab and therefore, the test subjects are more likely to behave naturally, and findings are more likely to be applicable to everyday life.
• Correlational research allows researchers to determine the strength and direction of a particular relationship. This information is often used to further investigate the relationship through experimental studies. In other words, it serves as a good starting point for examining a relationship.
• The relationship can be displayed in a graphical form that allows for relatively easy interpretation.

Disadvantages

• Correlational studies do not help to establish causation. In other words, they cannot be used to determine a cause-effect relationship. Correlational studies look for relationships between variables and can only be used to examine whether a relationship exists and if it does, the researcher can gather information about the strength and direction of that relationship. Even with a very strong correlation between variables, it cannot be assumed that one variable causes change in the other variable.
• Correlational relationships are mostly easily examined if the relationship is linear. If it non-linear, the strength of the relationship will be reduced in the calculation, however, the change in direction of the variables may still be due to a strong correlation.
• Data points that are outliers on the graph may also cause results that are skewed.
• Correlational research does not allow the researcher to go beyond the data that is given, and inferences should not be made. For example, if a researcher were examining the amount of time spent studying and test scores, he or she could not automatically assume it was acceptable make a statement that increasing study time by a particular percentage would increase test scores by a particular percentage.
• When examining multiple variables, there is a chance that some variables may show a relationship based on chance alone.

The following video, Non-experimental and Experimental Research: Differences, Advantages and Disadvantages, summarizes the issues related to correlational research by comparing it, and other non-experimental research methods, to experimental methods.

Suggested Readings

Bordens, K. S., & Abbott, B. B. (2002). Research design and methods: A process approach . McGraw-Hill.

Gall, M. D., Borg, W. R., & Gall, J. P. (1996). Educational research: An introduction . Longman Publishing.

Feldman, C. F., & Hass, W. A. (1970). Controls, conceptualization, and the interrelation between experimental and correlational research. American Psychologist, 25(7), 633.

Fraenkel, J. R., Wallen, N. E., & Hyun, H. H. (1993). How to design and evaluate research in education (Vol. 7). New York: McGraw-Hill.

Mitchell, T. R. (1985). An evaluation of the validity of correlational research conducted in organizations. Academy of Management Review, 10(2), 192-205.

Slavin, R. E. (1992). Research methods in education. Allyn & Bacon.

Thompson, B., Diamond, K. E., McWilliam, R., Snyder, P., & Snyder, S. W. (2005). Evaluating the quality of evidence from correlational research for evidence-based practice. Exceptional Children, 71(2), 181-194.