Question

In one of my research studies, I found higher levels of stress to be related to lower levels of positive communication behaviors between romantic partners. The research design of this study would be considered ______ while the relationship between variables is _________.

Answer 1

The study's research design is correlational, and the relationship between stress levels and positive communication behaviors is a negative correlation.

Step-by-step explanation:

The research design of the study in question is correlational as it observes the relationship between stress levels and communication behaviors without manipulating either variable. The relationship between the variables is that of a negative correlation, where higher levels of one variable (stress) are related to lower levels of another variable (positive communication behaviors). It's important to note that while a correlational study can reveal a relationship between two variables, it cannot establish a cause-and-effect relationship as an experiment would. This is because experiments involve manipulation of the independent variable to determine its effect on the dependent variable, often in a controlled environment to minimize confounding variables.