What is the focus of correlational studies?

Correlational studies are intended to describe the relationship between two or more variables without manipulating them. This approach allows researchers to observe and analyze how variables are related in a natural setting, providing insights into possible associations that may exist. For example, a researcher might find a correlation between hours spent studying and academic performance, indicating that as one variable changes, so does the other, but this does not imply that one causes the other.

In contrast to other types of research, such as experiments, correlational studies do not involve the active manipulation of variables to determine cause and effect. This characteristic distinguishes correlational studies as they provide valuable information about patterns and relationships, but cannot definitively establish causality.

The other approaches mentioned, such as determining causation, comparing experimental groups, or surveying public opinion, involve different methodologies that either manipulate variables or focus on gathering subjective data rather than examining relationships in a correlational framework.