What is a correlational study?

A correlational study is fundamentally a research approach aimed at examining the connection or relationship between two or more variables. In this kind of study, researchers identify and measure the variables of interest without manipulating them. The key focus is to determine whether a relationship exists, and if so, the strength and direction of that relationship. This allows researchers to make predictions about one variable based on another, although it does not establish causation.

For instance, if a study finds that there is a positive correlation between hours of study and exam scores, we can say that as study hours increase, exam scores tend to increase as well. However, correlation does not imply that studying more causes higher scores; other variables may influence this relationship.

In contrast, the other options present different methodologies or focuses: qualitative methods such as interviews focus on subjective data, experimental settings emphasize manipulation of variables to establish cause and effect, and statistical analyses of numerical data trends deal with quantitative insights without specifically looking for relationships.