Final answer:
In a correlational study, researchers do not control or manipulate the independent variable, which means they forfeit control of it, in contrast to an experimental study where the independent variable is manipulated.
Step-by-step explanation:
In a correlational study, researchers observe variables to identify relationships between them, while in an experimental study, the researcher manipulates one variable (the independent variable) to determine if it causes a change in another variable (the dependent variable). When conducting a correlational study, the researcher largely forfeits control of the independent variable. This is because in correlational studies, the focus is on observing the relationship between two variables, not on manipulating one variable to see its effect on another. The independent variable is not controlled or manipulated by the researcher, unlike in experimental studies where the independent variable is the one element that is systematically varied to explore its effects on the dependent variable.