Research Methods for the Behavioral Sciences

Full Answer Section

    Limitations:

• Correlational data cannot be used to prove causation. Just because two variables are correlated does not mean that one variable causes the other.
• Correlational data can be affected by confounding variables. Confounding variables are variables that are correlated with both of the variables being studied and can make it difficult to interpret the results of the study.
• Correlational data can be affected by self-selection bias. Self-selection bias occurs when participants choose to participate in a study based on their own characteristics, which can skew the results of the study.

Strengths and limitations of correlational data in forensic psychology and forensic settings Correlational data is commonly used in forensic psychology and forensic settings to study a variety of topics, including:

• The relationship between mental disorders and crime
• The relationship between childhood experiences and crime
• The relationship between recidivism and various factors such as mental health, substance abuse, and social support

Correlational data can be helpful in identifying risk factors for crime and recidivism, but it is important to keep in mind the limitations of correlational data. Correlational data cannot be used to prove causation, and it can be affected by confounding variables and self-selection bias. Strengths and limitations of correlational design in the two research articles The first research article I selected is titled "The Relationship Between Psychopathy and Recidivism in Male Offenders" by Hare, Robert D., William G. Cooke, and Stephen D. Hare (1999). This study used a correlational design to examine the relationship between psychopathy and recidivism in a sample of 200 male offenders. The results of the study showed that there was a significant positive correlation between psychopathy and recidivism. The strengths of the correlational design used in this study include:

• The study used a large sample size, which increases the reliability of the results.
• The study used a well-validated measure of psychopathy, the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R).
• The study used a long-term follow-up period to measure recidivism.

The limitations of the correlational design used in this study include:

• The study cannot prove causation. Just because psychopathy and recidivism are correlated does not mean that psychopathy causes recidivism.
• The study may have been affected by confounding variables, such as socioeconomic status and criminal history.
• The study may have been affected by self-selection bias, as the participants were all male offenders who agreed to participate in the study.

The second research article I selected is titled "The Relationship Between Childhood Sexual Abuse and Mental Disorders in Adulthood" by Felitti, Vincent J., Robert F. Anda, Daniel W. Nordenberg, Deborah F. Williamson, Alison M. Spitz, Valerie J. Edwards, Paul Koss, and J. David Marks (1998). This study used a correlational design to examine the relationship between childhood sexual abuse and mental disorders in adulthood in a sample of 17,421 adults. The results of the study showed that there was a significant positive correlation between childhood sexual abuse and mental disorders in adulthood. The strengths of the correlational design used in this study include:

• The study used a very large sample size, which increases the reliability of the results.
• The study used a well-validated measure of childhood sexual abuse, the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) questionnaire.
• The study used a well-validated measure of mental disorders in adulthood, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Fourth Edition (DSM-IV).

The limitations of the correlational design used in this study include:

• The study cannot prove causation. Just because childhood sexual abuse and mental disorders in adulthood are correlated does not mean that childhood sexual abuse causes mental disorders in adulthood.
• The study may have been affected by confounding variables, such as socioeconomic status and childhood trauma.
• The study may have been affected by self-selection bias, as the participants were all adults who agreed to participate in the study.

Overall, correlational data can be a valuable tool for research in forensic psychology and forensic settings. However, it is important to keep in mind the limitations of correlational data when interpreting the results of correlational studies.  

Sample Answer

   

Correlational data is data that measures the relationship between two or more variables. It can be used to identify patterns and relationships between variables, but it cannot be used to prove causation.

Strengths:

• Correlational data can be used to study a wide range of variables, including variables that are difficult or impossible to manipulate experimentally.
• Correlational data can be collected in a variety of settings, including real-world settings.
• Correlational data can be used to identify relationships between variables that are not immediately obvious