Which of the following best describes a defining characteristic of the correlational study in psychology?

• A. The study is always conducted in a laboratory setting.
• B. The researcher randomly assigns participants to experimental and control groups.
• C. The researcher measures the relationship between two or more variables without manipulating them.
• D. The researcher manipulates an independent variable to observe its effect on a dependent variable.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that a correlational study in psychology aims to examine the relationship between two or more variables without any manipulation or control over those variables.
2. Recognize that unlike experimental studies, correlational studies do not involve random assignment of participants to different groups or conditions.
3. Note that correlational studies can be conducted in various settings, not necessarily in a laboratory, as the focus is on measuring naturally occurring variables.
4. Identify that the key feature of correlational research is measuring the strength and direction of the relationship between variables, often using statistical tools like the correlation coefficient.
5. Conclude that the defining characteristic of a correlational study is that the researcher observes and measures variables as they naturally occur, without manipulating any independent variable.