Descriptive Correlational
Descriptive Correlational
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Essentials of research
design
An activity and time-based plan
A plan always based on research
question
A guide for selecting sources and
types of information
A framework for specifying the
relationships among the study’s
variables
A procedural outline for every
research activity 2
Basic Types of Research
Designs
Descripti
ve
Research
Explorat
Causal
ory
Research
Research
Resear
ch
Design
s
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Exploratory Research
Conducted to clarify
and define the
nature of the
problem
Subsequent
research is expected
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Attempts to
answer the
◦ What?
◦ Who?
◦ Where?
◦ When?
◦ How?
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Descriptive-Correlation
Research
Descriptive - hypotheses-free ;
describes an existing relationship
between variables
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2 forms of testing
There is no significant
relationship between 2 or
among many variables.
There is no significant
difference between 2 groups or
among many groups.
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Correlational Research
Systematic investigation or statistical
study of relationships among two or
more variables, without necessarily
determining cause and effect
Itaims to describe the relationship
among variable rather than to infer
cause-and -effect relationship
Exploratoryand Explanatory in nature
and answers the WHY and HOW
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Descriptive Correlational Studies
Establishes the existence of a
predictive relationship
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Descriptive Correlational Studies
Uses two or more sets of data to
examine the existence and
strength of a relationship between
them
Usually cross-sectional
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Nature of Correlational Research
Known as associational research
There is no manipulations of
variables since it is build on
existing knowledge
Relationships among two or more
variable are studied without any
attempt to influence them
Investigates the possibility of
relationships between two
variables 11
Correlational versus Causal Studies
When the researcher When the
is interested in researcher wants to
delineating the delineate the case
important variables of one or more
associated with the problems
problem
Cause and Effect
Usually the main relationship is when
reason is to find a change in the
evidence of a cause- independent
and-effect variable produces
relationship a change in
dependent variable
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Example of study
questions
Correlational Causal
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Difference between
Correlational and Causal Research
Require a score on Compare two or
each variable for more group of
each subject subjects
Investigate two or Involve at least
more quantitative one categorical
variables variable
Establishing Making
relationship comparison
Analyze data using Often compare
scatterplots and/or averages or use
correlation crossbreak 14
Correlation is not
Causation
Three ways in which A and B may be causally
related
A causes B (either directly or indirectly)
A B
C
B
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Similarities between
Correlational and Causal Research
contro
l
inferen
Rando ce
m
sampli
ng
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possible relationships that can
occur between two variables
symmetrical relationship
◦ two variables fluctuate together, but we
assume the changes in neither variable are
due to changes in the other.
reciprocal relationship
◦ when two variables mutually influence or
reinforce each other.
asymmetrical relationships
◦ changes in one variable (the independent
variable, or IV) are responsible for changes in
another variable (the dependent variable, or
DV).
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