A research design that seeks to determine the nature of the relationship between two variables, such as amount of in-ear headphone use and the prevalence of hearing loss in old age, is called a(n)
A) self-report study.
B) observational study.
C) experiment.
D) correlational study.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A correlational study seeks to determine the nature of the relationship between two variables, without manipulating any of them. In this case, the variables are the amount of in-ear headphone use and the prevalence of hearing loss in old age. A self-report study usually involves participants reporting their own behaviors or attitudes, but would not necessarily be the best choice for this particular research question. An observational study involves observing participants' behaviors or characteristics, but would not necessarily allow for an examination of the relationship between two variables. An experiment involves manipulating one variable to see its effect on another, which is not the goal of this particular study.

A Research Design That Seeks to Determine the Nature of the Relationship