297,795 views
11 votes
11 votes
is the following study causal or correlational? an i/o researcher created two experimental conditions (working 10 hours from home; working 10 hours in the office) and then tested a group of people who worked first from home and then in the office. the researcher found that people were more productive working from home.

User Sean Summers
by
2.9k points

1 Answer

19 votes
19 votes

Answer:

The study described appears to be a causal study. The researcher manipulated the independent variable (working from home versus working in the office) and measured the effect on the dependent variable (productivity). By randomly assigning participants to the two experimental conditions and controlling for other possible confounding variables, the researcher can infer that the difference in productivity between the two conditions is caused by the difference in the independent variable (working from home versus working in the office).

In contrast, a correlational study is one in which the researcher measures the relationship between two variables without manipulating either variable. In a correlational study, the researcher cannot make causal inferences about the relationship between the variables, because there may be other factors that could be influencing the relationship.

Explanation:

User Bulleric
by
3.0k points