Motivational Coping & Healing

The main difference between correlational studies and experimental studies is whether or not the test shows causation. In a correlational study, there is no causation. Correlation studies show the relationship between the subjects and whether they have a positive, negative, or no correlation at all. The textbook, Social Psychology, states, “Knowing that two variables change together (correlate) enables us to predict one when we know the other, but correlation does not specify cause and effect” (Myers & Twenge, 2021, p.16).

For example, trying to find the correlation between sleep and productivity the next day. While there may be a positive correlation between sleep and being able to do more in a day, it does not show that getting enough sleep is the cause of increased productivity. There could be other factors, such as people who get less sleep may feel pressured to get more done faster so they can be done with the day faster, which in turn increases productivity, or another variable could play a factor in the increased productivity. We can guess and theorize, but we do not know the exact cause.  

However, experimental studies show cause and effect. In experimental studies, we assess subjects by manipulating one variable and keeping the other variables the same. Additionally, our textbook states, “Social psychologists experiment by constructing social situations that simulate important features of our daily lives. By varying just one or two factors (called independent variables) at a time, the experimenter pinpoints their influence” and “dependent variable — the outcome being measured” (Myers & Twenge, 2021, p.17-18).

For example, there is a clinical study on the effect of a new sleep aid (independent variable) on the amount of productivity the participant has the next day (the dependent variable). When doing the study, there is a random assignment between three groups. Group one is given a placebo of the sleep aid, the second group is given a low dose of the sleep aid, and the last group is given a high dose of the sleep aid. The next day, the groups were given tasks and asked if they felt more or less productive. When the study is done, the researchers can determine the effect of the sleep aid and productiveness on the participants.  

References 

Miller, B. (2014, June 6). Comparing descriptive, correlational, and experimental Studies [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsbK6g10a-c 

Myers, D., & Twenge, J. (2021). Social Psychology (14th ed.). McGraw-Hill Higher Education (US). https://yuzu.vitalsource.com/books/9781260888522