Which research type examines relationships between variables without manipulating the independent variable?

• A. Correlational Research
• B. Experimental Research
• C. Grounded Theory Research
• D. Narrative Research

Answer: (A)

This item tests how researchers examine relationships between variables without changing the independent variable. In correlational research, you measure variables as they occur naturally and look for associations between them. The strength and direction of these associations are summarized with a correlation coefficient, showing whether variables tend to move together (positive relationship) or in opposite directions (negative relationship). Because there’s no manipulation, you can’t claim that one variable causes changes in another; other factors could influence both, or the relationship could even be bidirectional.

This differs from experimental research, which deliberately manipulates the independent variable to observe its effect on the dependent variable and aims to establish causation under controlled conditions. Grounded theory and narrative research are qualitative approaches focused on developing theory from data or exploring people’s experiences through stories, not on measuring relationships between variables in a quantitative sense.