Question

Which of the following best describes the limitations of observational research?

• Only collects data on events that have already occurred
• Is conducted in laboratory settings
• Is susceptible to bias and confounding variables
• Answers exploratory questions

Answer 1

Observational research has limitations such as only collecting data on past events, susceptibility to bias, and being more suited for exploratory questions than establishing cause-and-effect relationships.

Therefore, the correct options are:

Only collects data on events that have already occurred

Is susceptible to bias and confounding variables

Answers exploratory questions.

Step-by-step explanation:

Observational research is a research technique where you observe participants and phenomena in their most natural settings.

This enables researchers to see their subjects make choices and react to situations in their natural setting, as opposed to structured settings like research labs or focus groups.

The limitations of observational research include:

1. It only collects data on events that have already occurred, meaning it cannot manipulate variables or control how data is collected.
2. It is susceptible to bias and confounding variables, such as observer bias or other factors that can influence the results.
3. Observational research is mainly used to answer exploratory questions rather than establish cause-and-effect relationships.