Re-examination of the limitations associated with correlational research

Abstract

Correlational research is a type of quantitative research method that some researchers wrongly apply in a given academic study. It is time to highlight and address this problem by the way of publication in very reputable Journal. The paper is meant to re-examine the limitations and uses of correlational studies. At the end of the day, researchers are alerted to weigh various methods of quantitative research before making decision on the method suitable for their research objectives. Desktop approach that reviewed, critiqued and synthesized representative literature on a topic in an integrated way such that new frameworks and perspectives on the topic are generated was adopted. Books and articles were used as well. The revelation was that despite the challenges associated with using correlation, it was found very useful in bi-variate data analysis method used for predictions in some cases. Complex correlational statistics such as path analysis, multiple regression and partial correlation allow the correlation between two variables to be recalculated after the influence of other variables is removed, or factored out or partialed out. Even when using complex correlational designs, it is important that researchers make limited causation claims.