The main difference between a correlational study and an experiment is that in an experiment:
A) participants are observed in their everyday lives without interference.
B) the investigator manipulates one variable and observes its effects on the other.
C) all participants receive the same experimental conditions.
D) participants are aware of the hypothesis being tested.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In an experiment, the investigator manipulates one variable and observes its effects on the other variable. In contrast, a correlational study simply looks at the relationship between two variables without manipulating them. The other answer choices (A, C, and D) do not accurately describe the distinguishing feature of an experiment.

The Main Difference Between a Correlational Study and an Experiment