The Incorrelational research It is a type of non-experimental research in which researchers measure two variables and establish a statistical relationship between them (correlation), without the need to include external variables to reach relevant conclusions. For example, the correlation between time spent studying a subject and grades obtained can be investigated.
There are two essential reasons why researchers are interested in these statistical relationships between variables and are motivated to carry out correlational research.
The first is because they do not believe that the relationship between these variables is accidental, that is, a researcher would apply a survey whose use is known to a previously chosen group of people..
The second reason why this type of research is conducted instead of experimentation is because of the causal statistical relationship between the variables, in this way, researchers cannot manipulate the variables independently, since it is impossible, impractical and unethical.
There are three types of correlational research (natural observation, surveys and questionnaires, information analysis). Similarly, the correlation between the variables can be positive (directly proportional) or negative (inversely proportional). Indicating the way in which one variable can affect the other.
It is usually believed that correlational research should involve two quantitative variables, such as scores, results of the number of repeated events within a time frame.
However, the most important characteristic of correlational research is that the two variables treated are measured (without being manipulated) and the results are true regardless of the type of variable (quantitative or categorical)..
You may also be interested in knowing the field research: what it is, characteristics and stages.
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The term correlation is defined as the relationship between two variables. The main purpose of using correlations in research is to find out which variables are connected to each other. In this way, a specific event is scientifically understood as a variable.
Correlational research consists of looking for different variables that interact with each other, in this way when the change in one of them is evidenced, it can be assumed how the change will be in the other that is directly related to it..
This process requires the researcher to use variables that he cannot control. In this way, a researcher may be interested in studying a variable A and its relationship and impact on a variable B.
For example, a researcher could study the preferred type of ice cream according to age, identifying the preference of consumers based on their age. The world is full of correlated events, where if variable A is affected, there is a high probability that variable B will be too.
Within correlational research there are two different types, one positive and the other negative. Positive correlations mean that variable A increases and, consequently, variable B. On the other hand, when talking about negative correlations, when variable S increases, variable B decreases..
Correlational research is based on numerous statistical tests that indicate correlation coefficients between variables. These coefficients are represented numerically to indicate the strength and direction of a relationship..
Within the correlational research process, the researcher does not always have the opportunity to choose the variables he wants to study. When this happens, it is said that a semi-experimental investigation is being carried out..
There are three types of correlational research within which the variables may or may not be controlled. This depends on the type of approach you have in front of a given topic and the way you want to conduct the research..
The first of the three types of correlational research is natural observation. In this way, the researcher observes and records the variables within a natural environment, without interfering with their course..
An example of this can be a classroom. The researcher can analyze the results and the final grades obtained by the students in relation to their level of absenteeism..
This type of correlational research can be time consuming and does not always allow for control over the variables..
Another type of correlational research occurs when surveys and questionnaires are carried out from which information is collected. Within this type of research, a random sample or group of participants must be chosen.
For example, when you successfully complete a survey about a new product in a shopping center, you are participating in an investigative survey for correlational purposes. This type of survey is used to predict whether or not a product will be successful..
Using surveys within correlational research is often highly convenient, however, if the participants are not honest about it, they can alter the final results of the research in many ways.
The last type of correlational research that can be carried out is to analyze data previously collected by other researchers. For example, the court record of a town can be consulted to predict how crime statistics influence the local economy..
Query files are often available free of charge as reference tools. However, in order to establish a meaningful correlational relationship, it is usually necessary to have access to large amounts of information..
Within this type of research, researchers have no control over the type of information that has been recorded.
A good way to explain how correlational research works would be to think of an ice cream cart. In this way, a person can learn to recognize the particular sound of an ice cream truck, being able to perceive it in the distance.
When the sound of the truck gets louder, the person is able to recognize that the truck is closer.
In this way, variable A would be the sound of the truck and variable B would be the distance in which the truck is located. In this example, the correlation is positive, that as the sound of the truck increases, the closer its distance will be.
If we had different truck sounds, an individual would be able to recognize them all and relate them to different variables.
Within this research, a study group was used with a test designed to identify the differences between different population groups, in order to determine if there was any correlation between the variables analyzed..
A sample of 66 participants was taken, all of them 12-month-old children. Among these participants, 35 children had older siblings with a clinical diagnosis of autism. The remaining 31 children had siblings who did not have any degree of autism.
All participants were asked to manipulate an object to carry out a certain task and thus be able to identify some type of normal and abnormal behavior.
At the age of 24 or 36 months, the same group of children was again analyzed in order to determine if there was a tendency to autism or if they had developmental problems.
The results indicated that 9 of the infants who had autistic siblings were also diagnosed with some degree of autism. A series of correlations for these children were computed, including their results in the initial manipulative test and the test carried out later..
It was possible to show how the atypical manipulation of an object by a 12-month-old child was positively correlated with the subsequent diagnosis of autism. Similarly, it was negatively correlated with the child's normal or topical development..
Within this research, three initial questions were posed in relation to the experiences that African American women may have had in the past.
These questions asked about the proportions in which these women had experienced some form of racism.
Thus questioning the relationship of these experiences with possible psychological conditions of women and the ability of these women to mitigate the impact that racism had on their psychological condition.
The sample consisted of 314 African-American women who responded to a written survey designed to measure their experience with racism, the potential psychological conditions derived from this phenomenon, and the choice of behaviors to deal with situations of discrimination..
The results indicated the manifestation of numerous forms of racism (insults by coworkers, being ignored by salespeople in department stores, racist jokes, among others).
These different forms of racism were reported by more than 70% of the participants. Racism was found to be a common experience among African American women.
The correlational coefficients revealed a significant positive relationship between reported racism and the events and possible psychological problems of these women. This conclusion encompassed the mechanisms used by them to deal with racism..
Other results indicated that the different models used by African American women to deal with these incidents were regularly employed with partial success..
In this way, many women would have turned a negative experience into a much worse one in their attempt to mitigate its psychological impact (Goodwin & Goodwin, 2017).
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