Question

_________ One advantage of correlational research is the ability to study health-related variables in situations where the variable cannot be manipulated experimentally.

Answer 1

Correlational research in health sciences allows for the study of the relationship between variables, such as the positive correlation between smoking and lung cancer risk, without manipulating the variables directly, which is essential when ethical concerns prevent experimental approaches.

Step-by-step explanation:

Correlational research is a method often utilized in the health sciences to understand the association between two variables. It is particularly advantageous when variables cannot be manipulated ethically or practically in experimental setups. One benefit of correlational studies is the capability to investigate health-related variables without direct intervention.

For instance, observational studies have shown a positive correlation between smoking and lung cancer incidence, meaning as smoking increases, so does the risk of lung cancer. However, such studies can only establish correlation, not causation.

Therefore, they cannot definitively determine that one variable (e.g., smoking) causes another (e.g., lung cancer) without the control provided by experimental research. In health research, where ethical concerns often preclude experimental manipulation of variables (such as inducing malnutrition), correlational studies provide valuable insights while upholding ethical standards.